None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Respiratory dysfunction is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in spinal cord injury (SCI). Therapeutic singing exercises have been demonstrated to develop muscle control, expand lung capacity and increase vocal intensity with other clinical populations. This study will be the first to systematically document the physiological effect of singing instruction on respiratory function and voice projection in a quadriplegia population. All subjects will participate in physiological and acoustic assessments whilst vocalising, singing, and speaking. Forty subjects with chronic cervical SCI will be randomised into control and experimental groups. Subjects in the treatment group will participate in twice weekly singing instruction in small groups (n=5), with an additional weekly homepractise session, for a period of 20 weeks. All subjects will repeat the initial assessments after 10 and 20 weeks. Control subjects will participate in the vocal training after 20 weeks. The relevance of this project is indicated by research that shows that respiratory disorders and subsequent diminished vocal projection are common and disabling in the quadriplegia population. Singing training has been shown to improve respiratory capacity and voice projection in other clinical populations. In a health care setting where evidence-based practise is highly valued, the examination of the effect of this innovative therapy on ventilatory function is strongly indicated.
Interventions
12 weeks of singing training vs an active control intervention. The treatment condition involves instruction in breath control and vocal techniques for singing and the opportunity to sing familiar, popular songs in small groups (n=4). Treatment sessions will be held twice a week for the first 4 weeks for approximately 1 hour and participants will be expected to practise at least once per week at home with a practise CD. The following 8 weeks will involve only 1 group session and 2 home practise
12 weeks of singing training vs an active control intervention. The treatment condition involves instruction in breath control and vocal techniques for singing and the opportunity to sing familiar, popular songs in small groups (n=4). Treatment sessions will be held twice a week for the first 4 weeks for approximately 1 hour and participants will be expected to practise at least once per week at home with a practise CD. The following 8 weeks will involve only 1 group session and 2 home practise sessions.
Sponsors
Austin Health
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Parallel
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Blinded (masking used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 70 Years
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Quadriplegia C4-C7, at least 1 year post injury. Currently resident in Victoria and able to travel to the Royal Talbot Rehabilitation Centre for 12 weeks for training. English speaking and stable general health without pulmonary disease at the time of assessment.
Exclusion criteria
Previous history of speech disorder, respiratory disease, psychiatric disorder, or neurological impairment prior to SCI. Currently receiving singing or voice tuition.
Outcome results
None listed