The Influence of Posture and Balance on Voice: A Review

Abstract

The role of posture in vocal performance is recognized for many years. Speech therapists and singing teachers use this knowledge to correct bad postures to improve vocal quality with good results, although most of that knowledge is empirical. This review evaluates the influence of posture and balance on voice. Modification in posture secondary to exogenous stimulation can affect voice, while alterations to the voice production mechanism can cause modifications in posture. Vocal effort results in segmental alterations of posture, accompanied by global postural changes. Dysphonic individuals demonstrate a greater displacement of the centre of gravity forward, which results in postural instability, increasing muscular work to maintain the posture and balance. After vocal rehabilitation, dysphonic patients presented an improvement in posture parameters in static and dynamic posturography. Posturography evaluation of patients before and after vocal treatment may represent a clinically useful variable in evaluating the efficacy of vocal therapy.