Vibrational Therapies for Vocal Fatigue

Abstract

Background: Vibration is commonly used to relax tension in the limb and truck muscle. Vibration used directly on the muscle concerned and vertical vibration used on the whole-body through a foot platform have been reported in the literature to be useful to release muscle tension.

Aim: The present study investigated the effect of indirect whole-body vibration (WBV) and direct localized perilaryngeal vibration (LPV) on the phonatory functions of nondysphonic individuals with vocal fatigue.

Methods: Forty-four subjects (mean age = 21.67 years) with normal voice, were randomly assigned to either the WBV group, the LPV group, or the Control (sham hand-held vibratory device) group. They performed karaoke singing for at least 95 minutes. They then received either WBV through a Turbosonic vibratory machine, LPV with a Novofan vibrator, or a sham vibrator for 10 minutes. The highest pitch produced, and self-reported vocal fatigue score were taken before singing, after singing, and after the intervention. Data were analyzed separately for the gender subgroups.

Results: All subject groups showed significant reduction of vocal function (highest pitch production, and vocal fatigue score) after singing. Following the vibrational interventions, both the WBV and LPV groups showed significantly recovery in the highest pitch production and the perception of vocal fatigue (P < 0.002) than the Control groups.

Conclusion: Vibrational therapy, whether it is localized vibration on the peri-laryngeal muscles, or whole-body vibration, is more effective than voice rest per se in relieving vocal fatigue. Vibrational methods are recommended for treating vocal fatigue.

Keywords: Dysphonia; Localized vibration; Voice therapy; Whole-body vibration.