Effects of Liuzijue Qigong Posture on Aerodynamics of Phonation in Healthy Volunteers

Author: Ting Gong1, Tao Lu2, Yi Zhang3, Zhenrui Li4, Ao Shen1, Junhua Niu1, Rui Fang5, Chunlei Shan6
Affiliation:
1 School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
2 Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
3 The Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China.
4 Yueyang Hospital of Integrated Traditional Chinese and Western Medicine, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China.
5 The Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Eye, Ear, Nose, and Throat Hospital of Fudan University, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: fangrui2000@139.com.
6 School of Rehabilitation Science, Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine, Shanghai, China. Electronic address: shanclhappy@163.com.
Conference/Journal: J Voice
Date published: 2022 Feb 16
Other: Special Notes: doi: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2021.12.019. , Word Count: 197


Objectives:
To verify the possible function of Liuzijue Qigong (LQG), a kind of traditional Chinese health exercise, in improving phonation.

Methods:
A total of 30 healthy volunteers (10 males, 20 females) without voice disorders were included. The subjects were asked to have phonation tasks at the sitting and LQG postures. Aerodynamic, electroglottographic, and acoustic parameters were measured. Expiratory Volume (FVC); Subglottic Pressure at comfortable phonation (SGP), Glottal Resistance (GR), Glottal Efficiency (GE); Contact Quotient (CQ), Mean Flow (MF), Fundamental frequency (F0), Mean Sound Pressure Level (SPL); Phonation Threshold Pressure (PTP); and Maximum Phonation Time (MPT) were measured and analyzed.

Results:
In total subjects, the analysis showed a significant increase in FVC (P = 0.020), SGP (P = 0.043), F0 (P = 0.021), and PTP (P = 0.000) at the LQG posture when compared with the sitting posture, and there is no difference in CQ, MF, SPL, GR, GE, and MPT.

Conclusions:
The results showed LQG posture increased the respiratory support and glottal closure, while induced the respiratory system and vocal system in coordination to improve phonation. It is logical to postulate that LQG has potential in the management of voice disorders with glottal closure insufficiency.

Keywords: Liuzijue Qigong— Voice therapy— Glottal closure insufficiency— Aerodynamics.

PMID: 35183404 DOI: 10.1016/j.jvoice.2021.12.019

BACK