Massage and Manual Therapy for Your Voice
The physical side of voice therapy in the upkeep and rehabilitation of your voice
The voice is produced by the action of many muscles working in coordination. The actual vocal fold muscles are located inside the larynx (or “voicebox”). and muscles attach to the larynx above and below to assist in voicing and other important functions, like swallowing. Overuse, vocal nodes or polyps, stress, anxiety, recovering from illness, misuse, or anything else that puts excess demands on your body or the voice can create an abundance of tension in and around the larynx. This can include muscles of the jaw, tongue, neck, and shoulders. A common form of this kind of hyperfunctional muscle activation is called Muscle Tension Dysphonia (or MTD) (read more about MTD here).
Regardless of what you call it, excess physical strain on the voice can be debilitating. It is often painful as the muscles at and around the larynx become inflamed and sensitive, but can also result in a reduced ability to produce voice or a loss of voice entirely. This can pose a particular challenge for those who are occupational voice users (such as singers, actors, teachers, lawyers, etc.) and rely heavily on their voice for their work.
That is where Laryngeal Massage and/or Manual Therapy for the Voice comes in. Much like when you get a “kink” in other muscles around your body, or there is excess tension or “knotting” of muscles- physical release of these symptoms can restore comfort and function. The same is true for circumlaryngeal massage and related manual therapy techniques. By working directly in the regions of tension (neck, jaw, etc.) to stretch and restore a relaxed equilibrium, the function of the voice can be restored and reach a more comfortable state.
We also work with our adult voice clients to identify possible causes for the changes in their voice that have resulted in tension, pain or strain so that they have functional tools to navigate future issues as well. We fuse traditional voice therapy and exercise techniques with physical rehabilitation to deliver the most holistic care plan for your voice.
Our speech-language pathologist, Jordan Scholl, is a voice therapist with advanced knowledge and training in the anatomy of the human body and voice, singing technique, and laryngeal massage and manual therapy techniques for the physical release of tension- all with the passion of helping our clients put their best voice forward.
So regardless of what your voice needs are, if you are experiencing tension, pain, or strain in and around your voice there are options for you- and we want to help.
Contact us to find out more.
New Clients:
If you are a first-time client at Toronto Adult Speech Clinic, you will still book a virtual initial consultation as your first appointment. This will be an opportunity to meet on a video call and discuss your relevant voice and medical history, answer any questions or concerns you may have, and make a plan for working together on your voice. To book an initial consultation click here.
If this is not an option for you, please contact us to discuss alternatives that could work best.
