More than manipulation of the larynx!

Adi Kessels-de Beer , Jan Peters

A person’s general posture plays an important role in the development and perpetuation of voice problems. Moreover the balance between a person’s demands and capacities is also very important. The adaptive capacity of human beings enables an individual to adapt to his or her circumstances by changing the form and function of the body. If a person becomes overburdened for a longer period of time, those changes can become structural in nature. A wide variety of structural problems may occur. Overburdening or disrupting the normal posture or movement patterns will cause complaints and disorders.
During both the assessment and treatment of voice disorders one must be aware of the relationship between general posture, breathing mechanics, hyoidal functioning and laryngeal functioning. Attention should also be given to the demands and capacities of the individual.
The workshop will focus on observing the general posture and will introduce techniques to improve this. Further an introduction will be given to the techniques that can be used during assessment and treatment. Various techniques to improve relaxation and to facilitate the different structures involved in speech (involving posture, head position, larynx position and functioning, hyoidal structures and the breathing mechanics) will be demonstrated.
The following structures will be palpated and inspected in greater detail for position, stiffness, tone, symmetry and tenderness:
- cervical structures such as the posterior extensors, the deep anterior neck flexors and the superficial anterior neck muscles;
- hyoidal structures such as the hyoid bone, the stylohyoid muscle and muscles of the floor of the mouth;
- laryngeal structures such as the thyroid bone, the laryngeal muscles and the laryngeal joints;
- thoracal structures such as latissimus dorsi muscle, serratus anterior muscle, and the ascending and transverse parts of the trapezial muscle.

Jan Peters MSc., manual therapist, physiotherapist, psychologist, counsellor
Adi Kessels-de Beer, speech therapist, lecturer Zuyd University
Einders Educatie
Steenweg 2b
NL-6019 AX Wessem
tel. : +31 6 42765945
info@einders.nl
www.einders.nl