Phonatory breathing strategies in professionally trained singers – a dynamic MRI study

Background Efficient regulation of breathing muscles during phonation is addressed regularly in voice therapy and singing training. Still, it is unclear, which parameters define an efficient movement of the breathing apparatus.

Method Therefor this study aims analysis of rip cage (RC) and diaphragm (DPH) movement during phonation of 12 professional, western classically trained and 3 contemporary commercial music (CCM) singers. Dynamic MRI was used with a temporal resolution of 3f/s. In every image distances were measured between anatomical landmarks to characterize the breathing motion.

Results Singers showed a sophisticated movement pattern between RC and anterior DPH as well as posterior DPH during phonation, which was independent of pitch, genre and sex. Also singers performed a short DPH contraction during pitch jumps downwards. Differences could be shown between RC and DPH movement between female singers (more DPH based) and male singers (more RC based) in relation to individual breathing. Breathing motion differed between CCM and classically trained singer for different singing styles.

Discussion Results show for the first time the phonatory breathing movements of RC and DPH using dynamic MRI. A deeper understanding of efficient phonatory breathing movements in the future could help evaluation and management of speech breathing disorders in patients with dysphonia.

Poster-PDF A-1588.PDF

Publication History

Article published online:
10 June 2020