J Voice. 2021 Jul 10:S0892-1997(21)00183-1. doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2021.05.014. Online ahead of print.
ABSTRACT
OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the Immediate Effects of Semi-occluded Vocal Tract Exercises (SOVTEs) as a vocal warm-up on the Electrical Activity of Extrinsic Laryngeal Muscles and acoustic parameters of voice in singers.
STUDY DESIGN: This study used a pre-/post-interventional (quasi-experimental) design and a simple non-random sampling method.
SETTING: Musculoskeletal Rehabilitation Research Center.
METHOD: Surface electromyography of the suprahyoid and infrahyoid muscle areas and acoustic measurements were assessed before and immediately after performing three SOVTEs: lip-trill, humming, and straw phonation for 20 minutes as a vocal warm-up in eleven healthy male singers with an average age of 26.5 ± 4.2.
RESULTS: After performing the vocal warm-up, root mean square in channels two and three (left and right infrahyoid muscle areas) in all vocal tasks, including /i/, /u/, and counting from 20 to 30 was significantly decreased (P < 0.05). The acoustic parameters, F1, and F1-F0 difference were significantly decreased (P < 0.05).
CONCLUSION: The results suggest that after performing SOVTEs as a vocal warm-up, the electrical activity of the extrinsic laryngeal muscles is reduced. The acoustic analysis also demonstrated a decrease in F0, F1, and F1-F0 variables. Therefore, it seems that the results of acoustic and electromyographic assessments are in line and it is likely that SOVTEs through the vocal economy lead to a reduction in the load applied to the phonatory system.
PMID:34256979 | DOI:10.1016/j.jvoice.2021.05.014
