The effectiveness of manual circumlaryngeal therapy in future elite vocal performers

Abstract

The results of this pilot study prudently suggest that manual circumlaryngeal therapy can also improve vocal capacities in the healthy trained voices of future elite vocal performers.

The Effectiveness of Physiotherapy and Complementary Therapies on Voice Disorders: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials

“…However, regarding other outcome measures, the studies were heterogeneous varying from voice range profile (22, 25), maximum phonation time (MPT) (25), size of vocal fold lesion (22), muscle palpation (26), visual analog scale (VAS) (24, 26, 28), and scales like voice activity and participation profile (VAPP) (22, 26) and nordic musculoskeletal symptoms questionnaire (28). …”

“…Most of the studies had two groups, where a single experimental group was compared to a control group (CG) (23–25), or to two different interventions (26–28) or where an experimental group was assessed versus a placebo group (21). However, one investigation (22) had three groups (intervention group, sham intervention group, and no-treatment group).…”

“…However, some were 10 min (21), 20 min (25, 28), or 60 min (24) long. The length of the studies varied from a single treatment approach (21, 23, 25, 27) to 6 weeks (22, 28), 8 weeks (26), or 3 months of intervention (24). …”

“…The professional background of the intervener in the articles that do not mention the years of experience range from therapist (28), physiotherapist (21, 26), chiropractor (21), osteopath (27), to a naprapathy therapist (23). When the experience is mentioned, it varies from acupuncturists (22) with 2 years of experience, to experienced voice therapists (25) or voice massage therapists with 10 years of experience (24). …”

“…There was not a high degree of variation in quality between studies; however, only one study (21) was able to satisfy the blinding criteria for the therapists (PEDro scale question 6), four studies (23, 25–27) were not able to satisfy the blinding criteria for the assessors (PEDro scale question 7), and three RCTs (26–28) were not able to satisfy the blinding criteria for the subjects (PEDro scale question 5). The remaining criteria were always scored positively.…”