Customer Reviews

SP Medical Adjustable CPAP Chin Strap

5 star:		(18)
4 star:		(11)
3 star:		(9)
2 star:		(10)
1 star:		(17)

 

 

Reading some of the other reviews, it appears that some folks are buying this without knowing what the purpose of the item is. One reviewer wrote "the strap did not move my lower jaw forward." Chin straps are not designed to move your jaw forward. He needs to buy a mandibular advancement mouthpiece/splint for that. Another reviewer appears to believe that a chin strap alone treats sleep apnea. It doesn't. As he discovered, it just annoys you when you wake up gasping for air. What a chins strap does do is keep your mouth closed while using a nasal CPAP machine, thus reducing air leaking through the mouth. The alternative is to switch to a CPAP mask that covers the nose and mouth. If you are reviewing a chin strap, it would be very helpful to mention what kind of mask you are using and whether you are new to CPAP or switching from another brand of chin strap.

Another thing to keep in mind is that new chin strap users may need a few days to get used to the strap. Whatever you do, do not abandon your CPAP therapy. Untreated, sleep apnea leads to a miserable life and an early death. It took me weeks to get the right mask and chin strap and to get everything adjusted right. At times I thought that CPAP was a huge bother for very little benefit. Once I got settled in and used to this strange new equipment strapped to my head, it literally changed my life. Don't give up.

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I have only gone through one other chin strap, one made by Respironics. The SP Medical chin strap is superior. It's made from a higher grade of rubber, has more robust stiching and is very soft. Adjustable from two velcro closure points, this is a good product.

I am a 56 yr old woman who was having problems with a very dry mouth that interrupted my sleep when I used my CPAP machine. I had "invented" a chin strap from an old ace bandage before investing in a real chin strap. This invention helped but would not stay in place all night long. The SP Medical Adjustable CPAP Chin Strap looked like the best offer for the price. The design led me to believe that it would stay in place and do the job all night long and it did. I would recommend that anyone who opens his or her mouth during CPAP use and has problems with dry mouth, should try this product. 95% of my dry mouth problem is solved when I wear it and it helps with my compliance with using my CPAP, so my dr. is happy. Sweet Dreams!

The adjustment is a little tricky and you can easily wear it inside out without realizing it. Adjustment has to be done in a strict sequential manner. First you disconnect both velcro strips. Then put it around your chin and adjust the strap at the top of your head fairly tight, but not too tight. Then you connect the strap at the base of your skull above your neck.

Even so, it really takes some acclimation to sleep with this gadget. I wind up taking it off my head after a few hours because of discomfort. But it really does work, that is, stops the snoring. But if you have a stuffy nose, you can't get enough air. With this strap on your head, you really can't breathe through your mouth. But that is the whole idea to stop you breathing through your mouth.

I use nasal pillow headgear on a CPAP machine and purchased the SP Medical Adjustable CPAP Chin Strap in January 2010 to keep my mouth closed as I was waking up at night with air escaping through my mouth. I found it to be effective in preventing this from happening. I have a larger than average head, based upon my hat size, and I have found it to fit very comfortably. I have washed it repeatedly and after almost a full year, it has stretched out to the point I needed to replace it. I have accidently used the clothes dryer on it a few times and this may have caused it to wear out sooner than it would have otherwise. I decided to try a different chin strap and purchased the Respironics Premium Chin Strap a few weeks ago. I found this new chin strap to be effective, but not nearly as comfortable. With the Respironics strap, it is possible to put much more pressure on the chin to keep it closed, so people who find the SP Medical strap to be too loose, may prefer the Respironics strap. There were no directions with the Respironics chin strap and it took me a few tries to get it assembled properly. I am going to order another SP Medical strap however, as it is much more comfortable for me. This time I will be more careful about keeping it out of the dryer and hopefully it will last for more than the ten months I got out of the first one.

I have had two problems with the Tiara Medical chin straps provided by my insurance company - my head was too small for the chin strap (it was supposed to be a one size fits all), and the loop-and-hook pads were worthless. THIS chin strap is awesome. I love it enough I am buying another to have on reserve. I am using this comfortably with a ResMed Mirage Swift Nasal Pillows System CPAP mask with no problems.

I bought this for a relative for use by itself to stop snoring / sleep apnea, after recent studies show that a strap alone (without the CPAP machine) can be effective. This person cannot tolerate use of the CPAP machine. The strap has been partially effective, doesn't eliminate but substantially reduces snoring. Hard to say how much improvement, but the person is better rested, certainly has provided a worthwhile benefit. This strap is well made. It has two velro attachment points. It's fairly soft. None of these straps will be extremely comfortable, but this is probably as comfortable as a strap could be.

This simple device really seems to have reduced my snoring. My husband is sleeping better and I believe I'm getting more sleep, too. The downside is getting accustomed to having that thing on my head.

The article was made of a polyurethane not cloth as I imagined. It was very thin. I could barely get it on. It promoted sweat and I had to take it off in the middle of the night. I returned it. I will be more specific in my search. Nothing plastic!

I use it to keep my mouth closed while attached to my
sleep apnea machine (its proper purpose as another
reviewer has noted).

It survives machine washing (on delicate), once every week or so,
and hang dry (I just lay it out on my bed to let it dry).

After about four months it stretched out almost to where the velcro
is no longer in the right place to give me the tension I need.

I ordered a second one so when the first one no longer works
I don't have to suffer from lack of sleep for a few nights.

It occurs to me that two of them together would probably give me
all the tension I need with a much longer life since they will
each be doing half the work if I adjust them properly.

Price is great, so is Amazon prime. :-)