Year: 2024 | Month: April | Volume: 14 | Issue: 4 | Pages: 472-479
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20240459
Immediate Effect of Laryngeal Massage on Peri Laryngeal Muscle Tension in Theatre Actors with Vocal Fatigue: An Experimental Study
Dr Sonam Jain1, Kalyani Ravu2
1Assistant professor (Community Physiotherapy Department), P.E.S Modern College of Physiotherapy, Pune, India
2Bachelor of physiotherapy (Community Physiotherapy Department), P.E.S Modern College of Physiotherapy, Pune, India
Corresponding Author: Dr Sonam Jain
ABSTRACT
Introduction: Theatre actors are a group of elite vocal performers who have serious consequences for the slightest vocal difficulty. They are required to exhibit various human emotions on stage with various intensities in a way such that they can be easily conveyed to the present audience with a voice throw which can be heard clearly by everyone present. Vocal fatigue is a syndrome characterized by symptoms like increased vocal effort, laryngeal discomfort, neck pain, throat pain, reduced pitch, and reduced vocal projection which usually manifests as increased tension in the peri laryngeal musculature. The symptoms increase with vocal use throughout the day use and reduce with rest. Studies have shown the relation of vocal fatigue with vocal hyperfunction which makes professions like teachers, singers, and theatre actors prone to this syndrome. Laryngeal massage (LM) is performed on the peri laryngeal and the laryngeal area to relax the excessively tense musculature which inhibits normal phonatory function.
Method: 42 theatre actors who were regular performers with a minimum experience of 2 years and, a minimum of 5 hours of rehearsals in a week within the age group 18-25 were approached and consented to the diagnosis and intervention. vocal fatigue index was used to diagnose vocal fatigue and after diagnosis, pre-intervention laryngeal manual palpatory evaluation scale (LMPTE) was taken to assess tension in the peri laryngeal musculature and laryngeal height, laryngeal massage was performed and post-intervention LMPTE scale was taken.
Result: A paired t-test was used for the statistical analysis of the pre-and post-results in the peri laryngeal musculature. The tests showed significant results with p-value <0. 0001. There was no significant change in the laryngeal height post-laryngeal massage.
Conclusion: It is concluded in the study that there is an immediate effect of laryngeal massage on vocal fatigue.
Key words: Vocal Fatigue, Laryngeal Massage, Theatre Actors, Laryngeal Manual Palpatory Evaluation Scale