How do people with a spinal cord injury sing?

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Spinal Cord Injury (SCI) is a sudden and traumatic event causing permanent paralysis and ongoing disability. Respiratory dysfunction is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in SCI, causing reduced lung volumes and air flow rates. Some people living with quadriplegia (the loss of function in both arms and legs) are able to sing far more effectively than would be predicted on the basis of their injury level and severity alone. This study aims to determine the mechanisms by which these individuals achieve such impressive functional outcomes. Ten chronic cervical SCI subjects and 10 matched controls will be assessed during singing and speech using standardised phrases. Physiological tests including spirometry and EMG analysis will be utilised in addition to acoustic analysis of vocal amplitude. It is expected that in order to achieve the increased respiratory support required when singing, patients with quadriplegia will use innovative muscle recruitment and control strategies. The results of this investigation have important implications for therapeutic singing interventions during rehabilitation. Given that respiratory dysfunction is a major cause of morbidity and mortality after SCI, the effect of singing on respiratory function warrants further, rigorous investigation.

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