How Does Your Posture Affect Your Vocal Potential?
July 9, 2019
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The voice is one of the most important components of communication between human beings. Just like when something is “off” in our life if something is “out of alignment” or "off balance", it’s a guarantee our voice quality and vocal function will be sub-optimal if our posture is misaligned. Poor posture results in reduced respiratory support for voice and also reduces the openness of the vocal tract—both of these will encourage the body to use extrinsic muscles for voice production, which will lead to vocal effort, vocal fatigue, inefficient voice use, and even muscle tension dysphonia (MTD).
Postural distortions that impact the cervical spine will impact laryngeal stability and freedom. Postural imbalances in the neck & head structures promote changes in the soft tissue of the pharynx (throat) & in the muscles that elevate the larynx, which will impair control & resonance of the voice. The small intrinsic laryngeal muscles are responsible for the movement of the arytenoid cartilages and thus for vocal fold (VF) adduction, abduction, and tension (pitch). The larger extrinsic musculature upholds the larynx in a stable/natural position in which the intrinsic laryngeal musculature can be used freely. Increased tension of the extrinsic musculature results in a changed position of the larynx in the neck (to a higher one) that will affect the intrinsic musculature, altering tension of the VFs & causing a disturbance in voice quality/production.
Due to an excessive amount of time spent using electronic devices, our society has adapted a more forward head posture than previous generations, & this can have a disastrous effect on the voice, as it can cause a significant amount of stress and strain to be put on the neck and shoulders (especially the cervical spine). When the head is pushed forward for prolonged periods of time (while sitting or standing), the larynx is not free to move as it can and the voice will not function smoothly. In addition, when spinal tissues are subject to a significant load for a sustained period of time, they deform and undergo remodeling, which involves changes that could become permanent (disc compression, damage, early arthritis, etc.).
A study by Carneiro (2013) used photogrammetry to identify a relationship between posture and voice quality and found that the voice exhibited more tension and worse quality when used in forward head, backward head, and cervical extension positions when compared with being used in a straight/neutral position. Additional studies have found that posture can have a strong effect on vocal effort (Gilman & Johns, 2016) even in the absence of vocal loading as subtle shifts in the position of the head or balance can have a significant impact on the efficiency of laryngeal movement.
Whether you use your voice for public speaking, teaching, instructing fitness classes, singing, or just over the course of a normal day, a well-balanced musculature coupled with a well-aligned skeleton is the foundation for a well-supported, reliable, and resonant voice. As you focus on developing habits of good posture and alignment (for speaking, singing, and just existing), you will find new vocal freedom and accessibility because you are cultivating balance in the subsystems of vocal production and the extensive musculature and skeletal makeup that govern respiratory and laryngeal function. Through daily alignment checks, you will not only increase your overall health but also strengthen and balance your vocal mechanism.
