Hostname: page-component-78c5997874-94fs2 Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-11-02T23:03:39.121Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Exploring the effect of laryngeal neuromuscular electrical stimulation on voice

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  08 November 2016

M Gorham-Rowan*
Affiliation:
Department of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Valdosta State University, Georgia, USA
R Morris
Affiliation:
School of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Florida State University, Tallahassee, USA
*
Address for correspondence: Dr Mary Gorham-Rowan, Dept. of Communication Sciences and Disorders, Health Sciences and Business Administration Building, 1500 N. Patterson Street, Valdosta State University, Valdosta, GA 31698, USA E-mail: [email protected]

Abstract

Objective:

This study was conducted to explore the potential use of neuromuscular electrical stimulation as an adjunctive treatment for muscle tension dysphonia.

Methods:

Voice data and ratings of fatigue and soreness were obtained for two experiments. Experiment one examined the vocal effects of neuromuscular electrical stimulation applied to the neck for 15 minutes. Experiment two examined the recovery effect of laryngeal neuromuscular electrical stimulation following a vocal loading task among normophonic women.

Results:

No significant differences in vocal function following 15 minutes of laryngeal neuromuscular electrical stimulation were found. Six of 11 participants receiving laryngeal neuromuscular electrical stimulation exhibited improved recovery following the vocal loading task.

Conclusion:

A short session of laryngeal neuromuscular electrical stimulation may be beneficial in reducing muscle fatigue for some individuals. Further investigation is warranted to determine the applicability of laryngeal neuromuscular electrical stimulation in voice therapy.

Type
Main Articles
Copyright
Copyright © JLO (1984) Limited 2016 

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

Footnotes

Portions of this paper were presented at the Voice Foundation's 39th Annual Symposium, 2–6 June 2010, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA, the American Speech–Language–Hearing Association Convention, 17–19 November 2011, San Diego, California, USA, and the Acoustics 2012 Hong Kong joint meeting of the Acoustical Society of America, Acoustical Society of China, Western Pacific Acoustics Conference and Hong Kong Institute of Acoustics, 14–18 May 2012, Hong Kong, People's Republic of China.

References

1 Carnaby-Mann, GD, Crary, MA. Examining the evidence on neuromuscular electrical stimulation for swallowing: a meta-analysis. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2007;133:564–71Google Scholar
2 Ptok, M, Strack, D. Therapeutic effects of electrical stimulation therapy on vocal fold vibration irregularity [in German]. HNO 2008;57:1157–62Google Scholar
3 LaGorio, LA, Carnaby-Mann, GD, Crary, MA. Treatment of vocal fold bowing using neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Arch Otolaryngol Head Neck Surg 2010;136:398403 Google Scholar
4 Guzman, M, Rubin, A, Cox, P, Landini, F, Jackson-Menaldi, C. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the cricothyroid muscle in patients with suspected superior laryngeal nerve weakness. J Voice 2014;28:216–25CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
5 Humbert, IA, Poletto, CJ, Saxon, KG, Kearney, PR, Ludlow, C. The effect of surface electrical stimulation on vocal fold position. Laryngoscope 2008;118:1419 CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
6 Ludlow, CL, Humbert, I, Saxon, K, Poletto, C, Sonies, B, Crujido, LC. Effects of surface electrical stimulation both at rest and during swallowing in chronic pharyngeal dysphagia. Dysphagia 2007;22:110 Google Scholar
7 Erickson, D, Baer, T, Harris, KS. The role of the strap muscles in pitch lowering. In: Bless, DM, Abbs, JH, eds. Vocal Fold Physiology: Contemporary Research and Clinical Issues. San Diego: College-Hill Press, 1983;279–85Google Scholar
8 Faaborg-Andersen, K, Sonninen, A. Function of the extrinsic laryngeal muscles at different pitches. Acta Otolaryngol (Stockh) 1960;51:8993 CrossRefGoogle Scholar
9 Loucks, TM, Poletto, CJ, Saxon, KG, Ludlow, CL. Laryngeal muscle responses to mechanical displacement of the thyroid cartilage in humans. J Appl Physiol 2005;99:922–30Google Scholar
10 Fowler, L, Gorham-Rowan, M, Hapner, E. An exploratory study of voice change associated with healthy speakers following transcutaneous electrical stimulation to laryngeal muscles. J Voice 2011;25:5461 Google Scholar
11 Gorham-Rowan, M, Fowler, L, Hapner, E. Acoustic analysis of voice change in normal speakers following transcutaneous electrical stimulation to the laryngeal area. Open Rehabilitation Journal 2010;3:6774 Google Scholar
12 Fowler, L, Awan, SA, Gorham-Rowan, M, Morris, R. Investigation of fatigue, delayed-onset muscle soreness, and spectral-based cepstral measurements in healthy speakers after neuromuscular electrical stimulation. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 2011;120:641–50Google Scholar
13 Cramp, M, Scott, O. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation: nerve-muscle interaction. In: Watson, T, ed. Electrotherapy: Evidence-Based Practice, 12th edn. Edinburgh: Elsevier, 2008;211–30Google Scholar
14 Mannheimer, JS, Lampe, GN. Pain and TENS in pain management. In: Mannheimer, JS, Lampe, GN, eds. Clinical Transcutaneous Electrical Nerve Stimulation. Philadelphia: FA Davis, 1984;728 Google Scholar
15 Laukkanen, AM, Järvinen, K, Artkosi, M, Waaramaa-Mäki-Kulmala, T, Kankare, E, Sipolla, S et al. Changes in voice and subjective sensations during a 45-minute vocal loading test in female subjects with vocal training. Folia Phoniatr Logop 2004;56:335–46Google Scholar
16 Laukkanen, AK, Ilomäki, I, Leppänen, K, Vilkman, E. Acoustic measures and self-reports of vocal fatigue by female teachers. J Voice 2008;22:283–9CrossRefGoogle ScholarPubMed
17 Watts, CR, Awan, SN. Use of spectral/cepstral analyses for differentiating normal from hypofunctional voices in sustained vowel and continuous speech contexts. J Speech Lang Hear Res 2011;54:1525–37Google Scholar
18 Stemple, JC, Stanley, J, Lee, L. Objective measures of voice production in normal subjects following prolonged voice use. J Voice 1995;9:127–33Google Scholar
19 Armstrong, RB. Mechanisms of exercise-induced delayed onset muscle soreness: a brief review. Med Sci Sports Exerc 1984;16:529–38Google Scholar
20 Connolly, DA, Sayers, SP, McHugh, MP. Treatment and prevention of delayed onset muscle soreness. J Strength Cond Res 2003;17:197208 Google Scholar
21 Witjing, Y, Freed, M. VitalStim® Therapy: Training Manual for the Use of Neuromuscular Electrical Stimulation in the Treatment of Dysphagia. Hixson, TN: Chattanooga Group, 2004 Google Scholar
22 McDonough, S. Neuromuscular and muscular electrical stimulation. In: Watson, T, ed. Electrotherapy: Evidence-Based Practice, 12th edn. Edinburgh: Elsevier, 2008;231–51Google Scholar
23 Cramp, M, Scott, O. Sensory and motor nerve activation. In: Watson, T, ed. Electrotherapy: Evidence-Based Practice, 12th edn. Edinburgh: Elsevier, 2008;6774 Google Scholar
24 Fairbanks, G. Vowel and Articulation Drillbook, 2nd edn. New York: Harper & Row, 1960;127 Google Scholar
25 Darley, FL, Aronson, AE, Brown, JR. Motor Speech Disorders. New York: WB Saunders, 1975;298 Google Scholar
26 Goodglass, H, Kaplan, E, Barresi, B. Boston Diagnostic Aphasia Examination, 3rd edn. Austin: Pro-Ed, 2000 Google Scholar
27 Kertesz, A. Western Aphasia Battery – Revised. San Antonio: Pearson, 2006 Google Scholar
28 Titze, I, Winholtz, W. Effect of microphone type and placement on voice perturbation measures. J Speech Hear Res 1993;36:1177–90Google Scholar
29 Delitto, A, Strube, MJ, Shulman, AD, Minor, SD. A study of discomfort with electrical stimulation. Phys Ther 1992;72:410–21Google Scholar
30 Gersh, MR. Electrotherapy in Rehabilitation. Philadelphia: Davis, 1992;1924 Google Scholar
31 Alon, G, Smith, GV. Tolerance and conditioning to neuro-muscular electrical stimulation within and between sessions and gender. J Sports Sci Med 2005;4:395405 Google Scholar
32 Petrofsky, J. The effect of the subcutaneous fat on the transfer of current through skin and into muscle. Med Eng Phys 2008;30:1168–76Google Scholar
33 Neric, FB, Beam, WC, Brown, LE, Wiersma, LD. Comparison of swim recovery and muscle stimulation on lactate removal after sprint swimming. J Strength Cond Res 2009;23:2560–7Google Scholar
34 Lattier, G, Millet, GY, Martin, A, Martin, V. Fatigue and recovery after high-intensity exercise. Part I: Recovery interventions. Int J Sports Med 2004;25:509–15Google Scholar
35 Leeder, J, Spence, J, Taylor, E, Harrison, A, Howatson, G. The effect of electrical stimulation on recovery from exercise-induced muscle damage. Br J Sports Med 2011;45:A21 Google Scholar
36 Malone, JK, Coughlan, GF, Crowe, L, Gissane, GC, Caulfield, B. The physiological effects of low-intensity neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) on short-term recovery from supra-maximal exercise bouts in male triathletes. Eur J Appl Physiol 2012;112:2421–32Google Scholar
37 Al-Abdulwahab, SS, Al-Khatrawi, WM. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation of the gluteus medius improves the gait of children with cerebral palsy. NeuroRehabilitation 2009;24:209–17Google Scholar
38 Eriksson, E, Häggmark, T. Comparison of isometric muscle training and electrical stimulation supplementing isometric muscle training in the recovery after major knee ligament surgery. A preliminary report. Am J Sports Med 1979;7:169–71Google Scholar
39 Wright, PA, Durham, S, Ewins, DJ, Swain, ID. Neuromuscular electrical stimulation for children with cerebral palsy: a review. Arch Dis Child 2012;97:364–71Google Scholar
40 Cho, HY, In, TS, Cho, KH, Song, CH. A single trial of transcutaneous electrical stimulation (TENS) improves spasticity and balance in patients with chronic stroke. Tohoku J Exp Med 2013;229:187–93Google Scholar
41 Angsuwarangsee, T, Morrison, M. Extrinsic laryngeal muscular tension in patients with voice disorders. J Voice 2002;16:333–43Google Scholar
42 Hočevar-Boltežar, I, Janko, M, Žargi, M. Role of surface EMG in diagnostics and treatment of muscle tension dysphonia. Acta Otolaryngol 1998;118:739–43Google Scholar
43 Vintturi, J, Alku, P, Lauri, ER, Sala, E, Sihvo, M, Vilkman, E. The effects of post-loading rest on acoustic parameters with special reference to gender and ergonomic factors. Folia Phoniatr Logop 2001;53:338–50Google Scholar
44 Titze, IR. Toward occupational safety criteria for vocalization. Logoped Phoniatr Vocol 1999;24:4954 Google Scholar
45 Dietrich, M, Verdolini Abbot, K, Gartner-Schmidt, J, Rosen, CA. The frequency of perceived stress, anxiety, and depression in patients with common pathologies affecting voice. J Voice 2008;22:472–88Google Scholar
46 Awan, SN, Giovinco, A, Owens, J. Effects of vocal intensity and vowel type on cepstral analysis of voice. J Voice 2012;26:670.e15–20Google Scholar
47 Schiaffino, S, Reggiani, C. Fiber types in mammalian skeletal muscles. Physiol Rev 2011;91:1447–531Google Scholar
48 Ben Abderrahman, A, Zouhal, H, Chamari, K, Thevenet, D, de Mullenheim, PY, Gastinger, SJ. Effects of recovery mode (active vs. passive) on performance during a short high-intensity interval training program: a longitudinal study. Eur J Appl Physiol 2013;113:1373–83Google Scholar
49 McAinch, AJ, Febbraio, MA, Parkin, JM, Zhao, S, Tangalakis, K, Stojanovaska, L et al. Effect of active versus passive recovery on metabolism and performance during subsequent exercise. Int J Sport Nutr Exerc Metab 2004;14:185–96Google Scholar