Associations between Teachers' Posture, Muscle Tension and Voice Complaints

Utility of maximum phonation time in the diagnosis of spasmodic dysphonia (laryngeal dystonia)

OBJECTIVES

Maximum phonation time is a simple test used to assess glottic competency. Our objective was to evaluate any correlation between maximum phonation time and spasmodic dysphonia as adductor spasmodic dysphonia and abductor spasmodic dysphonia have an adductor and abductor overdrive, respectively.

METHODS

A 3-year data-review was performed for patients diagnosed with adductor spasmodic dysphonia, abductor spasmodic dysphonia and mixed spasmodic dysphonia. Maximum phonation time was noted on the first visit and compared with a control group.

RESULTS

Average maximum phonation time in adductor spasmodic dysphonia, abductor spasmodic dysphonia and control group was 25 seconds, 9 seconds and 16 seconds. A significant difference was found for adductor spasmodic dysphonia and abductor spasmodic dysphonia. A receiver operating characteristic curve analysis between adductor spasmodic dysphonia and control groups showed a positive predictive value of 81.3 per cent, negative predictive value of 83.9 per cent, sensitivity of 79.6 per cent and specificity of 85.2 per cent. Level of evidence = 4.

CONCLUSION

We recommend that maximum phonation time be added to the diagnostic armamentarium of spasmodic dysphonia. This correlation between maximum phonation time and spasmodic dysphonia has not been previously published.

The Relationship between Posture and Muscle Tensive Dysphonia in Teachers: A Systematic Scoping Review

Teachers usually present work-related pain such as neck pain. Their posture could be the cause of these problems; indeed, it is often a sway-back posture. Furthermore, teachers can also experience problems with their voice such as dysphonia, specifically muscle tension dysphonia (MTD). This scoping review aims to find the correlation between teachers' posture and MTD. It also studies how a posture-based treatment can influence this disorder. Randomized controlled trials, controlled clinical trials, prospective cohort studies, and cross-sectional studies that considered the relationship between posture and MTD and that included teachers in their sample. The search led to an initial number of 396 articles; after the screening process, a final number of eight articles were included. A total of 303 patients were analyzed and all showed altered alignment of the head around the cervical spine with hypertonus of the cricothyroid, suprahyoid, and sternocleidomastoid muscles. Although MTD is a disorder with a multifactorial etiology, the articles revealed a correlation between posture and MTD related to a forward protraction of the cervical spine with a hypertonus of the laryngeal and hyoid musculature. This study also detected that an intervention in posture could reduce vocal disorders.

Effects of Adenotonsillectomy on Vocal Function

INTRODUCTION

Correct breathing is a fundamental condition for adequate vocal production. Respiratory dynamics are able to modify the growth of facial mass and lingual posture, i.e., of the skull, the mandibular one. For this reason, infant mouth breathing can cause hoarseness.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We evaluated the actual changes in the characteristics of the voice and articulation of language in a group of subjects affected by adenotonsillar hypertrophy (grade 3-4), with frequent episodes of pharyngo-tonsillitis who underwent adenotonsillectomy. Our study included 20 children-10 boys and 10 girls-aged 4 to 11 years who had adenotonsillar hypertrophy and pharyngotonsillitis episodes exceeding 5-6 per year in the previous 2 years. The control group (Group B) included 20 children-10 boys and 10 girls-aged 4 to 11 years (average age of 6.4 years) who had not undergone surgery and shared the same degree of adenotonsillar hypertrophy as those in Group A but who did not experience recurrent pharyngotonsillitis episodes.

DISCUSSION

The hypertrophy of adenoids and tonsils significantly impacted breathing, vocal function, and speech articulation. All this is responsible for a state of tension in the neck muscles, which at the level of the vocal tract causes hoarseness. The changes objectively observed in our study in the pre- and post-operative phase demonstrate how adenotonsillar hypertrophy is responsible for an increase in resistance to the passage of air at the glottic level.

CONCLUSIONS

For this reason, adenotonsillectomy has an impact on recurrent infections and can also lead to an improvement in speech, breathing, and posture.

Combined treatment of muscle tension dysphonia: voice therapy with instrumental postural rehabilitation

Objectives

This investigation aimed to propose a new rehabilitation technique that combines voice exercises and instrumental postural rehabilitation for patients with muscle tension dysphonia (MTD).

Methods

We enrolled nine dysphonic patients (8 women and 1 man, aged 22-55 years). Voice assessment included strobovideolaryngoscopy, Maximum Phonation Time (MPT), perceptual evaluation by GRBAS scale and patient's self-rating by Italian version of the Voice Handicap Index (VHI). Vestibular function was evaluated by the Bed Side Examination and Video Head Impulse test (VHIT). Postural control was evaluated by Dynamic Posturography (DP) using the Sensory Organization Test (SOT) and analysing the Equilibrium Score (ES) and balance subsystems (somatosensorial, visual, vestibular).

Results

All cases underwent different types of voice exercises combined with balance training based on NeuroCom Balance Master Protocols, once a week for six 35-minutes sessions. After therapy, an improvement in MPT, VHI, GRBAS scores and endoscopic laryngeal features was obtained. DP results at baseline were normal and after therapy we showed a slight improvement of ES (somatosensorial and visual components).

Conclusions

A combined rehabilitation technique for MTD, by improving the attention to postural control, allows for significant improvement in vocal symptoms.

Effect of Pompage on Vocal and Respiratory Measurements from Female Teachers: A Randomized Clinical Trial

INTRODUCTION

Teachers stand out among occupational groups due to their contribution to modern societies, and their voice is the main form of interaction.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of the study was to verify the changes in vocal and respiratory measurements from teachers with vocal and musculoskeletal complaints and with normal larynx after applying a musculoskeletal manipulation protocol of myofascial release using pompage.

METHODS

Controlled and randomized clinical trial with 56 participants: 28 teachers in the study group and 28 teachers in the control group. Anamnesis, videolaryngoscopy, hearing screening, sound pressure and maximum phonation time measurements, and manovacuometry were performed. The musculoskeletal manipulation protocol of myofascial release using pompage consisted of a total of 24 sessions, 40 min for each session, three times a week, for 8 weeks.

RESULTS

There was a significant improvement in the maximum respiratory pressure in the study group after the intervention. The sound pressure level and the maximum phonation time did not change significantly.

DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION

Musculoskeletal manipulation protocol of myofascial release using pompage had a direct effect on the respiratory measurements from female teachers, significantly increasing the maximum respiratory pressure but without affecting sound pressure level and the /a/ maximum phonation time.

Effect of pompage on pain, disability and craniocervical position of female teachers - Randomized clinical trial

Abstract Introduction: Education professionals are one of the most important occupational groups and represents one of the main parts of the economy of modern society. The vocal demands most mentioned by the teachers are talking while standing up, talking a lot and in a closed environment, which corresponds to the most frequent situations encountered in teaching. In addition, remaining in the standing position for a prolonged period may have repercussions on other systems and generate postural deviations, pain and reduced functionality. Objective: To verify changes in pressure pain threshold, in disability index and in craniocervical posture of female teachers with vocal and musculoskeletal complaints, and with normal larynx, after myofascial release - pompage. Methods: This study was a controlled and randomized clinical trial. The following procedures were performed: anamnesis, videolaryngoscopy, hearing screening, clinical and photogrammetric postural assessment using the SAPo® protocol, completion of the neck pain self-assessment protocol Neck Disability Index, and pain threshold in the cervical muscles using the Pain Pressure Threshold. Myofascial therapy with pompage had a total of 24 sessions of 40 min each, three times a week, in 28 teachers assigned to the study group (SG), and 28 to the control group (CG). Afterwards, the groups were reassessed. Results: The SG presented a significant improvement in the pain threshold of all the muscles evaluated, in the posture of most of the body segments evaluated, and in the cervical disability. In the CG there was a significant improvement in angle A2 after therapy. Conclusion: After myofascial release therapy with pompage, the subjects presented a reduction in cervical pain and in functional disability, an increase in pain threshold, and posture improvement.