Abstract
Objective
To explore the effects of singing training on respiratory function, voice, mood, and
quality of life for people with quadriplegia.
Design
Randomized controlled trial.
Setting
Large, university-affiliated public hospital, Victoria, Australia.
Participants
Participants (N=24) with chronic quadriplegia (C4-8, American Spinal Injury Association
grades A and B).
Interventions
The experimental group (n=13) received group singing training 3 times weekly for 12
weeks. The control group (n=11) received group music appreciation and relaxation for
12 weeks. Assessments were conducted pre, mid-, immediately post-, and 6-months postintervention.
Main Outcome Measures
Standard respiratory function testing, surface electromyographic activity from accessory
respiratory muscles, sound pressure levels during vocal tasks, assessments of voice
quality (Perceptual Voice Profile, Multidimensional Voice Profile), and Voice Handicap
Index, Profile of Mood States, and Assessment of Quality of Life instruments.
Results
The singing group increased projected speech intensity (P=.028) and maximum phonation length (P=.007) significantly more than the control group. Trends for improvements in respiratory
function, muscle strength, and recruitment were also evident for the singing group.
These effects were limited by small sample sizes with large intersubject variability.
Both groups demonstrated an improvement in mood (P=.002), which was maintained in the music appreciation and relaxation group after
6 months (P=.017).
Conclusions
Group music therapy can have a positive effect on not only physical outcomes, but
also can improve mood, energy, social participation, and quality of life for an at-risk
population, such as those with quadriplegia. Specific singing therapy can augment
these general improvements by improving vocal intensity.
Keywords
List of abbreviations:
ASIA (American Spinal Injury Association), FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1 second), FVC (forced vital capacity), IC (inspiratory capacity), MEP (maximal expiratory pressure), MIP (maximal inspiratory pressure), POMS (Profile of Mood States), SCI (spinal cord injury), SCM (sternocleidomastoid), sEMG (surface electromyographic), SNIP (sniff nasal inspiratory pressure), SPL (sound pressure level), TLC (total lung capacity)To read this article in full you will need to make a payment
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Article info
Publication history
Published online: October 26, 2012
Footnotes
Supported by the Victorian Neurotrauma Initiative (grant no. D066).
No commercial party having a direct financial interest in the results of the research supporting this article has or will confer a benefit on the authors or on any organization with which the authors are associated.
Clinical Trial Registration No.: ANZCTRN012607000291482 (Australian New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry).
Identification
Copyright
© 2013 American Congress of Rehabilitation Medicine. Published by Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.
