title: Vocal exercise may attenuate acute vocal fold inflammation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective was to assess the utility of selected "resonant voice" (RV) exercises for the reduction of acute vocal fold inflammation. The hypothesis was that relatively large-amplitude, low-impact vocal fold exercises associated with RV would reduce inflammation more than spontaneous speech (SS) and possibly more than voice rest.
  
  
  METHODS
  The study design was prospective, randomized, and double blind.
  
  
  METHODS
  Nine vocally healthy adults underwent a 1-hour vocal loading procedure, followed by randomization to a SS condition, vocal rest condition, or RV exercise condition. Treatments were monitored in clinic for 4 hours and continued extraclinically until the next morning. At baseline (BL), immediately after loading, after the 4-hour in-clinic treatment, and 24 hours post-BL, secretions were suctioned from the vocal folds bilaterally and submitted to enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay to estimate concentrations of key markers of tissue injury and inflammation: interleukin (IL)-1β, IL-6, IL-8, tumor necrosis factor α, matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-8, and IL-10.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Complete data sets were obtained for three markers--IL-1β, IL-6, and MMP-8--for one subject in each treatment condition. For these markers, results were poorest at 24-hour follow-up in the SS condition, sharply improved in the voice rest condition, and was the best in the RV condition. Average results for all markers and responsive subjects with normal BL mediator concentrations revealed an almost identical pattern.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Some forms of tissue mobilization may be useful to attenuate acute vocal fold inflammation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Communication Science and Disorders, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, USA. kittie@csd.pitt.edu
authors.forename: Katherine
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Verdolini Abbott
authors.forename: Nicole Y K
authors.initials: NY
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Ryan C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Branski
authors.forename: Clark A
authors.initials: CA
authors.lastname: Rosen
authors.forename: Elizabeth
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Grillo
authors.forename: Kimberly
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Steinhauer
authors.forename: Patricia A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Hebda
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D004311:Double-Blind Method; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D018836:Inflammation Mediators / Q000378:metabolism; D007827:Laryngitis / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000628:therapy*; D007828:Laryngoscopy; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010414:Pennsylvania; D010699:Phonation; D011312:Pressure; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012146:Rest; D013068:Speech Production Measurement; D049489:Stroboscopy; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014732:Vibration; D014741:Video Recording; D014827:Vocal Cords / Q000378:metabolism / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D014833:Voice Quality; D014834:Voice Training; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D018836:Inflammation Mediators