Voice disorders can be caused by tension in the muscles above, below or on the larynx. Overuse of the voice by singers or people who use their voice for long periods, such as teachers, salespersons or customer service agents, can cause imbalance in these muscles leading to hoarseness, loss of vocal range, pain or breathing difficulties. Manual physiotherapy, often called laryngeal massage or vocal massage, can help to improve vocal quality and range, reduce pain and ease breathing difficulties. It is best to have treatment early, as leaving the tension in the muscles around the larynx makes speaking and singing more difficult and the resultant strain on your vocal cords causes inflammation and swelling (laryngitis). Once this has happened, you will need to rest your voice and manual therapy techniques won’t improve your voice until the inflammation settles down. Repeated laryngitis can lead to the formation of polyps on vocal cords, which may require surgical intervention or laser treatment to remove the polyps.
There can be other causes of vocal problems, so it is important to get this checked with a ear nose and throat specialist or speech and language therapist to exclude these. Speech and language therapists do not routinely offer manual therapy of the laryngeal and surrounding muscles, so you will need to see a physiotherapist with special training in treating the larynx. If you have problems with your voice, book an appointment for a vocal assessment and laryngeal massage with e-physiotherapy Edinburgh.