Hands on Approach to Voice Care
Hands on Approach to Voice Care
Using laryngeal massage and manual therapy to support your voice
It is not uncommon for people to seek support for their tired or sore muscles throughout their body. Maybe after sleeping funny or a challenging workout, as part of rehabilitation after injury, or to prepare the body for intense work and prevent misuse or overuse.
So why not for the voice?
“…the voice is not just a single region or structure- it is a system of structures that have to work together for your voice to feel its best.”
Despite most people having a personal experience with the benefits of massage or manual therapy, it isn’t always a thought for singers, actors, teachers, fitness professionals, or other voice users when caring for their voice. Or… maybe they don’t even know it’s an option or where they can look for this type of service.
In fact, voice therapy in general isn’t always a first thought when someone starts to experience changes in their voice. Sometimes they feel like- that’s just normal!
And while some variation in the voice performance and quality may be normal and totally safe for the voice- it doesn’t mean we shouldn’t pay attention to it- especially if we are professional voice users.
Laryngeal massage or manual therapy for the voice can be used to treat acute issues (like a sudden change in the voice or before/after a high intensity use or performance) or chronic issues (like muscle tension dysphonia or rehabilitation after injury).
At Toronto Adult Speech Clinic, our laryngeal massage and manual therapy is combined with functional voice therapy to make sure that your voice is receiving not just the physical support it needs, but the functional support as well. After all- the voice is not just a single region or structure- it is a system of structures that have to work together for your voice to feel its best.
Usually a session involves a manual assessment of the areas that are potentially impacting your voice. This may include your abdomen, chest and ribcage, clavicles and neck, your larynx, jaw, mouth, and even your tongue.
We are a consent-forward and inclusive practice so if there are areas you do not feel comfortable with the clinician assessing or treating, all you have to do is say so. There is always more than one way to treat a voice concern and manual therapy and laryngeal massage is a collaborative therapy approach with YOU in the drivers seat.
Jordan Scholl is our speech-language pathologist who has been performing laryngeal massage and manual therapy since the start of his practice. Following a virtual initial consultation, we are now seeing clients for in-person sessions at our downtown clinic site. Contact us for more details!
“…manual therapy and laryngeal massage is a collaborative therapy approach with YOU in the drivers seat.”
