Massage Therapy for a Voice Student with Behavioral Dysphonia When Singing: A Case Report

Area of Science:

• Vocal science
• Massage therapy
• Singing voice rehabilitation

Background:

• Behavioral dysphonia involves inefficient muscle tension affecting voice quality.
• Traditional treatments lack a holistic approach addressing all vocal subsystems and posture.
• Limited research exists on massage therapy for behavioral dysphonia in singers.

Purpose of the Study:

• To explore the effects of a targeted massage protocol on a singer with behavioral dysphonia.
• To assess the impact of massage on the vocal system's aerodynamic, acoustic, and physical parameters.

Main Methods:

• A case report involving a 33-year-old singer with behavioral dysphonia.
• 90-minute massage sessions twice weekly for 3 weeks, targeting the whole vocal anatomy.
• Pre- and post-treatment measurements of acoustic, aerodynamic, and physical outcomes.

Main Results:

• Improved posture (reduced forward head, elevated shoulders, spinal curvature).
• Increased vocal range by six semitones, loudness by 6 dB, and peak expiratory flow by 174 L/min.
• Enhanced respiratory function, harmonics-to-noise ratio, and vocal range during singing.

Conclusions:

• A comprehensive massage protocol for vocal anatomy yielded positive outcomes for behavioral dysphonia in singing.
• The study suggests massage therapy as a potential complementary treatment for voice disorders.