What is Vocal Manual Therapy?
Vocal Manual Therapy (Also known as Vocal Massage or Laryngeal Manipulation) is a series of very gentle manoeuvres to help to release muscle tension around the larynx, jaw, neck and ribcage. It is administered by a certified, trained and insured professional (Vocal Manual Therapist VMT) to relax the para-laryngeal structures with the aim of restoring your vocal function. It is totally client focused and tailored to the needs of the singer or elite voice user.
Vocal Manual Therapy has been shown to improve:
- Vocal Muscle Tension Dysphonia
- Vocal fatigue
- Vocal range changes and issues
- Reflux issues
- Sensation of bunching or lack of space in vocal tract
- Globus (Sense of lump in the throat)
- Tongue Tension
- Vocal resonance changes
- Jaw Issues and Temporomanibular Joint Disorder (TMJ-D)
- Bruxism (Teeth Grinding and clenching)
- Neck muscle tension
- Ribcage expansion and breathing
The ways by which VMT is administered is one or all of the following:
- Guided Self Vocal Manual Therapy if you feel anxious about someone else touching your head, neck and laryngeal area you can, to begin with, be shown adapted guided self vocal manual therapy techniques to apply in the mirror. You will also receive a detailed explanation about various muscles to demystify their location, function and action with anatomical pictures and diagrams.
- Seated Vocal Manual Therapy Best suited for Laryngeal manipulation.
- Supine Vocal Manual Therapy Lying horizontally face up on a therapy bed. Most singers find this very comfortable. It is especially useful for VMT for head, neck and jaw muscle areas.
- Standing Vocal Manual therapy
