Is Acupuncture Efficacious for Treating Phonotraumatic Vocal Pathologies? A Randomized Control Trial

Abstract

Objective To investigate the effectiveness of acupuncture in treating phonotraumatic vocal fold lesions. Study Design/Methods A total of 123 dysphonic individuals with benign vocal pathologies were recruited. They were given either genuine acupuncture (N=40), sham acupuncture (N=44) or a no-treatment (N=39) for six weeks (two 30-minute sessions per week). The genuine acupuncture group received needles puncturing nine voice-related acupoints for 30 minutes, two times a week for six weeks; while the sham acupuncture group received blunted needles stimulating the skin surface of the nine acupoints for the same frequency and duration. The no-treatment group did not receive any intervention but attended just the assessment sessions. One hundred and seventeen subjects completed the study (genuine acupuncture=40; sham acupuncture=43, and no-treatment=34), but only 84 of them had a complete set of vocal functions and quality of life measures (genuine acupuncture=29; sham acupuncture=33, and no-treatment=22), and 42 of them with a complete set of endoscopic data (genuine acupuncture=16; sham acupuncture=15 and no-treatment=11). Results Significant improvement in vocal function, as indicated by the maximum fundamental frequency produced, and also perceived quality of life, were found in both the genuine and sham acupuncture groups, but not in the no-treatment group. Structural (morphological) improvements were, however, only noticed in the genuine acupuncture group, which demonstrated a significant reduction in the size of the vocal fold lesions. Conclusions The findings showed that acupuncture of voice-related acupoints could bring about improvement in vocal function and healing of vocal fold lesions.

Vocal Fold Polyps: Literature Review

“…Despite the priority of traditional laryngeal microsurgery and the scientific advances in terms of the surgical techniques used, other treatment alternatives for vocal fold polyps have produced positive results, such as conservative medical treatment, 21 the use of endoscopic laser, 39 40 41 steroid injection, 42 43 44 flexible laryngostroboscopic surgery, 45 46 acupuncture, 47 and vocal health orientation associated with antireflux medication. 5…”

“…The authors also considered that changes in vocal behavior induced by speech therapy were essential for the patients to be able to maintain the effect obtained by acupuncture. 47…”

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). …”

“…The total number of subjects included in the 8 articles was 286, with a minimum sample size of 12 ( 21 ) and a maximum sample of 84 ( 22 ). The participants’ age ranged from 17 to 59 years.…”

“…The studies presented some homogeneity regarding speech samples, since sustained vowel was present in five articles ( 22 , 24 – 26 , 28 ), followed by reading ( 23 , 24 , 27 ), spontaneous speech ( 28 ), automatic speech sequence ( 26 ) and singing ( 21 ).…”