Researchers at the 2026 American Thoracic Society International Conference have highlighted positional therapy as a viable alternative for treating obstructive sleep apnoea. By encouraging side-sleeping , this method addresses a condition that affects many patients who find traditional CPAP masks too uncomfortable to use consistently .

The 50% compliance gap in CPAP treatment

For decades, continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines have served as the primary defense against obstructive sleep apnoea. However, the effectiveness of these machines is often undermined by the very people they are meant to help. As the source report notes, as many as half of all patients struggle to maintain consistent use of CPAP masks due to physical discomfort.

This lack of adherence is more than just a matter of convenience; it is a significant health risk. Obstructive sleep apnoea occurs when the walls of the throat relax during sleep, blocking the airways and increasing the likelihood of life-threatening complications such as stroke and heart disease. When patients abandon their CPAP machines, they lose their primary protection against these severe cardiovascular risks .

One-year success rates from the 2026 American Thoracic Society Conference

New data presented at the 2026 American Thoracic Society International Conference suggests that positional therapy could bridge this compliance gap. Researchers found that the treatment provides long-term benefits that persist even after the active use of a device has ceased.

According to the findings, more than two-thirds of patients were able to control their sleep apnoea without active treatment after six months of using a positional device. Most significantly, this improvement was not a temporary fix; the study observed that these positive effects remained stable even a full year after the initial intervention.

Why 75% of patients may benefit from side-sleeping

The effectiveness of this approach is rooted in the specific mechanics of how sleep apnoea is triggered in many individuals. The report indicates that approximately 75 per cent of patients suffer from positional sleep apnea, a subset of the condition that is specifically triggered when a person sleeps on their back.

Dr. Irene Cano-Pumarega, head of the sleep unit at Madrid’s Ramon y Cajal Hospital, noted that positional therapy was not only effective but also better tolerated than traditional methods. By using devices to ensure patients remain on their sides, clinicians can prevent the airway collapse that occurs during back-sleeping, offering a level of efficacy comparable to CPAP without the intrusive mask.

Will vibrating belts and weighted vests replace CPAP?

While the clinical results are promising,the transition from research to a global medical standard remains to be seen. Currently, the market offers various tools to assist with side-sleeping, including belts that vibrate when a user rolls onto their back and vests with balls sewn into the fabric to discourage back-sleeping.

However, several questions remain regarding the scalability and accessibility of these solutions. It is currently unclear how insurance providers will categorize these devices compared to traditional CPAP machines, or how effective these mechanical aids will be for the portion of the population whose apnoea is not striictly positional. Furthermore, while the study highlights long-term success, more data is needed to determine if these devices can be integrated into standard clinical protocols worldwide.