Phonotraumatic Injury in Fitness Instructors: Risk Factors, Diagnoses, and Treatment Methods

Fitness instructors are at risk for phonotraumatic injury caused by a combination of occupation-driven environmental and physiologic factors.

This study analyzes phonotraumatic injury in a cohort of fitness instructors to define the spectrum of disease, inform treatment, and make educational recommendations.

Retrospective chart review.

Fitness instructors seen over a 2-year period comprised the study population. Stroboscopic findings, recommended treatment modalities, and treatment outcomes, including postoperative recurrence (when applicable) were analyzed. Demographic information (gender, age), past medical history, VHI-10 scores, and concurrent relevant vocal demands (performer vs. non-performer) were reviewed. Descriptive statistics and bivariate analyses with Fisher's exact test and Wilcoxon rank sum test were used to determine statistical significance of various factors in relation to phonotraumatic injury and response to treatment. Cochran-Armitage trend tests were performed to analyze trends in injuries across fitness types in relation to increased vocal demand. Occupational concerns reported by subjects were analyzed descriptively.

The subject cohort consisted of 24 fitness instructors (20F; 4M) who taught a variety of fitness methods. Thirteen subjects (54.2%) were diagnosed with pseudocysts (five unilateral, eight bilateral), five (20.8%) with bilateral midfold masses, five (20.8%) with polyps (four unilateral, one bilateral), and one (4.2%) with cyst. Fourteen subjects (58.3%) were prescribed medication (oral steroids, reflux medication, and/or allergy medication). All were referred for behavioral management. Ten (41.7%) chose surgical intervention after failure to return to satisfactory function with behavioral management; Four (40%) experienced postoperative lesion recurrence. There were no statistically significant findings in relation to demographic information, past medical history, concurrent relevant vocal demands, or occupational vocal demands with choice for surgery. Trend test analysis found that lesions that are typically more likely to require surgical intervention (eg, polyps) tended to be found more frequently as vocal demand increased. The primary occupational concerns reported by subjects were related to amplification (lack of amplification, inadequate amplification/amplification problems) and scheduling (too many consecutive classes without adequate breaks).

Fitness instructors are subject to a variety of phonotraumatic vocal fold injuries, nearly half which require surgical treatment. One in four recurs after such intervention. Instructors could benefit greatly from education on vocal health, strategies to improve and/or reduce voice use while in the fitness environment, and to help aid in recognizing early "red flags" for phonotraumatic injury. Occupational factors that place fitness instructors at risk for phonotraumatic injury (scheduling, environment, amplification) may be improved with education directed to studio owners and managers.