Are you having troubles with your voice? Does your voice sound or feel different?
Do you hold tension in your neck, jaw, or tongue?
Your voice is a huge part of your identity, and we use our voice every single day! Here at South Perth Physiotherapy, we’re here to help support your voice in any way we can. We can help a wide range of people with Vocal Physiotherapy including singers, musical theatre performers, actors, teachers, customer service/call centre (and basically anyone who has a voice!) We work with in conjunction with vocal coaches, Ear Nose and Throat (ENT) Specialists and Speech Pathologists to provide you with a holistic and collaborative approach to your vocal care.
What is Vocal Physiotherapy?
Vocal physiotherapy is a specialised area that focuses on the treatment of muscular, myofascial, and cartilaginous structures of the larynx (the voice box) and the surrounding peri-laryngeal region. All these structures need to function in unison for optimal voice production to occur.
If you’ve been experiencing vocal fatigue, discomfort, or issues with voice quality, Vocal Physiotherapy can help by addressing any biomechanical or musculoskeletal restrictions that may be affecting your voice. Vocal physiotherapy focuses on improving the quality of vocal production, reduces pain and addresses other varying symptoms and aims to support the optimal function of your voice.
Who can benefit from Vocal Physiotherapy?
- Singers
- Actors and Musical Theatre Performers
- Teachers and Public Speakers
- Customer Service/Call Centre Workers
- Anyone with a Voice – Even if you’re not using your voice professionally, vocal health is still essential. Whether it’s speaking to loved ones, leading meetings at work, or simply enjoying a good conversation, your voice matters!
Common Symptoms Treated by Vocal Physiotherapy
- Pain or increased effort when vocalising – Feeling like you need to work harder to get sound out or your voice fatigues quickly or experiencing pain when speaking/singing
- Voice quality or volume changes – Noticing your voice sounding raspy, breathy, or weaker than usual.
- Muscular throat pain – Discomfort or tightness in the muscles around your throat
- Tongue tension – Discomfort or tightness in the tongue
- Musculoskeletal issues of the surrounding joints – This can include your neck, jaw, shoulders and upper back (which all play a role in vocal production)
What to Expect in a Vocal Physiotherapy Session
During your initial vocal physiotherapy appointment, we will take a thorough history and perform a detailed assessment including your vocal concerns and goals. Our assessment goes beyond just your voice. It also includes looking at your overall posture, Cervical and Thoracic spine, jaw, shoulder girdle, and scapula. We may also examine other factors connected to your voice including breathing patterns, Lumbar spine, and even your pelvic floor, as all these areas can impact vocal function.
After the assessment, we can provide hands on treatment which may include manual therapy techniques (to release tension in muscles and joints around the larynx, jaw, neck, and shoulders), postural exercises and education, and more!
Whether you’re looking to improve your vocal performance or resolve persistent vocal issues, we’re here to support you on your journey.
Blog by Suhasini Sutharshan, Physiotherapist at South Perth Physiotherapy.
