Mechanism of Whole-Body Vibration in Improving Voice Production: A Concluding Remark

Whole-body vibration (WBV) has emerged as a popular technique, where mechanical oscillations are transmitted to the human body through vertical or alternating movements. This technique has been extensively studied in various fields including sports exercise and therapeutic interventions for medical conditions. This presentation focuses on the exploration of WBV in terms of voice production.

First, a comprehensive review of our team’s previous studies is presented. The findings reveal that WBV (15Hz, 2mm vibratory amplitude, 10 minutes) facilitates easier phonation, as individuals display a significantly wider vocal range compared to those performing standard Vocal Function Exercises. Additionally, a 10-min WBV effectively reduces vocal fatigue after prolonged singing, surpassing the benefits obtained from vocal rest alone.

Furthermore, the mechanism underlying the positive impact of WBV on voice production is discussed. We propose the existence of a “spring system” within the larynx, which exhibits periodic bouncing movements when subjected to external vertical vibrations. Consequently, the vocal folds experience vertical stretching and compression, yielding a unique “massaging” effect. To partially evaluate this hypothesis, we analyzed the frequencies resulting from WBV using electroglottographic (EGG) signals of twenty participants. The results demonstrate that vibrations at specific frequencies are indeed transmitted from an external WBV platform to the larynx. Therefore, we suggest that WBV holds significant potential in managing various vocal dysfunctions, such as vocal fold edema and presbyphonia.