Artikel
Manual treatment versus PMR in the therapy of muscle tension dysphonia – a first comparison of immediate effects
Suche in Medline nach
Autoren
Veröffentlicht: | 6. Juli 2010 |
---|
Gliederung
Text
Introduction: Manual treatments gain increasing interest among voice therapists. Studies on manual therapy concerning voice disorders are of mostly poor methodological quality. Studies including control groups are almost absent. We present preliminary data of a feasibility study that shows, that the effects of manual therapy on muscle tension dysphonia can be examined and confirmed in a controlled, prospective and single-blinded manner. The same patients served as a control group as they were treated with progressive muscle relaxation (PMR; Jacobson) as well.
Methods: Six female patients with muscle tension dysphonia were treated with manual therapy (osteopathic approach) and PMR with one week in between. The order of both treatments was randomly assigned. Before and after each treatment a thorough voice examination including videolaryngostroboscopy, jitter, shimmer, phonography, etc. was performed by a blinded examiner (stroboscopy was performed by a non-blinded examiner but the videos obtained were rated in a blinded manner by a different person). Patients were to complete VHI and vocal tract discomfort scale (VTD) forms as well as a visual analog scale for the perceived amount of relaxation after each treatment.
Results: Both types of treatment were perceived as being relaxing. Both types of treatments deployed significant positive effects on a number of voice quality measures. There is a trend towards better effects of osteopathic manual therapy than PMR on stroboscopic results as well as on vocal tract discomfort.
Conclusion:
- 1.
- We have proven the feasibility of a controlled, randomised, single-blinded study on short term effects of both treatment alternatives. The data gained will allow for statistic sample size estimation for further studies.
- 2.
- General relaxation plays a major role in the effects of manual therapy which will have to be regarded in further studies.