None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
Singing Cords is a peer-led therapeutic group singing program for people with spinal cord injury. Spinal cord injury of the neck region impairs the persons’ ability to breathe deeply, raise their voice and cough to clear their airways placing them at high risk of respiratory infections. Group singing has been found to enhance mood, social connectedness, breathing function and voice projection in people with neurological dysfunction. This three month program will build on existing evidence by piloting a multi-disciplinary peer led structured program led by a vocal coach and professional singer who has a spinal cord injury. The teams aims to determine if this form of rehabilitation is of benefit and can be incorporated into the existing model of rehabilitation.
Interventions
Peer - led therapeutic group singing program delivered in 1hour sessions twice a week for 12 weeks making a total of 24 sessions of intervention. Intervention includes education, vocal exercises and breathing exercises. The intervention over the 24 sessions will be delivered by the vocal coach, physiotherapist, speech pathologist and leisure therapist. The group will be made up of up to 10 participants.
Sponsors
Princess Alexandra Hospital, Metro South Health
Study design
Allocation
Non-randomised trial
Intervention model
Single group
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
16 Years to No maximum
Healthy volunteers
No
Inclusion criteria
Newly acquired or existing clients with SCI affecting the mid thoracic and cervical levels of the spine will be eligible if also able to attend twice weekly sessions at the Princess Alexandra Hospital for a 3 month period.
Exclusion criteria
Excluded if have a history of a speech disorder prior to SCI, psychiatric disorder, prior stroke or brain injury. Also excluded if significant respiratory disease which impairs their ability to complete respiratory outcome measures.
Outcome results
None listed