THE EFFECT OF POSTURAL ALİGNMENT AND DEEP CERVICAL MUSCLE TRAINING ON VOICE FUNCTION IN OLDER ADULTS WITH PRESBYPHONIA | NCT07771114 | Trialant

Not yet recruitingInterventionalNot ApplicableUpdated Aug 18, 2026

THE EFFECT OF POSTURAL ALİGNMENT AND DEEP CERVICAL MUSCLE TRAINING ON VOICE FUNCTION IN OLDER ADULTS WITH PRESBYPHONIA

THE EFFECT OF POSTURAL ALIGNMENT AND DEEP CERVICAL MUSCLE TRAINING WITH PRESBYPHONIA

Overview

Key facts that identify this study and show where it stands today.

ClinicalTrials.gov ID: NCT07771114
Lead Sponsor: Suleyman Demirel UniversityOTHER
Overall Status: Not yet recruiting
Study Type: Interventional
Phase: Not Applicable
Enrollment: 90Estimated
Last Update Posted: Aug 18, 2026Actual
Start Date: Sep 1, 2026Estimated
Primary Completion Date: Dec 12, 2026Estimated
Completion Date: Dec 31, 2026Estimated

Description

What the study is about and why it is being run, in the researchers' own words.

Official Title: THE EFFECT OF POSTURAL ALIGNMENT AND DEEP CERVICAL MUSCLE TRAINING WITH PRESBYPHONIA
Brief Summary: This study examined whether posture exercises and deep neck muscle training can improve voice quality in older adults with presbyphonia, an age-related voice disorder.

Older adults with presbyphonia participated in a rehabilitation program that included posture correction and exercises to strengthen the deep neck muscles. The program aimed to improve head and neck alignment, posture control, and breathing support, which are important for healthy voice production. Voice evaluations were performed before and after treatment using voice recordings, breathing-related measurements, and questionnaires about voice-related difficulties.

After the exercise program, participants showed improvements in voice quality and vocal stability. They were able to sustain their voice for a longer time and reported fewer voice-related problems in daily life. Improvements in posture and neck control were also associated with better vocal performance.

These findings suggest that posture and deep neck muscle exercises may help improve voice function in older adults with presbyphonia. Such exercises may be a useful supportive treatment option for age-related voice problems. Further studies with larger groups are needed to confirm these results.

Conditions

The medical conditions and diseases this study investigates.

Presbyphonia
Deep Cervical Muscles

Interventions

The treatments and procedures being evaluated in this study.

Neck Stabilization Exercises Group
Control Group

Participation

Who can join this study and the criteria used to decide.

Ages Eligible for Study: Child (0-17)
Sexes Eligible for Study: All
Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
Eligibility Criteria: ınclusion Age ≥65 years

Diagnosis of presbyphonia

Absence of neurological disease

Absence of severe hearing loss exlusion

laryngeal surgery

neurological speech disorder

acute respiratory disease

Design

How the study is designed and how its participant groups are organized.

Primary Purpose: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: Single

Contacts

The people to reach with questions about this study or how to join it.

EMİNE METİN, phd,Contact

eminetaha32@gmail.com+900 0246-211326 ext. +9005324201569

Locations

Where the study is run and whether each site is currently recruiting.

No locations

There are no locations for this study.

Collaborators

The organizations and people involved in this study.

Lead Sponsor: Suleyman Demirel UniversityOTHER

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Other registered studies that closely resemble this one.

Detailed Description

Age-related changes in the voice mechanism can significantly affect voice quality and communication in older adults. Presbyphonia is one of the most common age-related voice disorders, resulting from structural and functional changes in the laryngeal tissues. Degeneration of the vocal cord muscles, decreased elasticity of the lamina propria, and reduced neuromuscular control can lead to symptoms such as shortness of breath, decreased voice intensity, and decreased phonation efficiency (1,2). These changes can negatively impact speech communication and overall quality of life in older individuals (3).

Voice production is a complex motor activity requiring coordination between the respiratory, laryngeal, and supralaryngeal systems. Efficient phonation depends not only on the laryngeal muscles but also on the alignment and stability of surrounding musculoskeletal structures, particularly the cervical spine and upper thoracic region (4; 5). Postural alignment optimizes respiratory mechanics and laryngeal function, while changes in head and neck posture can affect vocal tract configuration, airflow control, and phonation efficiency (6,7).

Aging is frequently associated with a forward-tilted head posture and decreased cervical stability, which can increase muscle tension and alter the biomechanical relationship between the hyoid, larynx, and surrounding muscles (8,9). These postural deviations can contribute to inefficient phonation and reduced vocal performance. Previous studies have shown that head and neck posture can affect acoustic voice parameters, including fundamental frequency, vibration, and brightness, highlighting the importance of musculoskeletal alignment in voice production (3,6).

The deep cervical muscles are critical for maintaining head and neck stability. Weakness or dysfunction in these muscles can compromise cervical control, respiratory support, and laryngeal biomechanics (8). Rehabilitation programs targeting deep cervical muscle activation and postural control have been used in physiotherapy to improve neuromuscular coordination and spinal stability (8,9). These interventions can indirectly affect voice production by optimizing the biomechanical environment necessary for efficient phonation.

Postural and cervical muscle training has been shown to improve neck stability, postural alignment, and respiratory function (5,10). Improved diaphragmatic breathing and thoracic expansion associated with improved posture can enhance vocal efficiency by providing better phonation support (1,4). However, the direct effects of posture and cervical stabilization exercises on voice function in older adults with presbyphonia have largely been understudied.

Given the interactions between posture, cervical stability, and voice production, musculoskeletal interventions may provide a complementary approach to managing age-related voice disorders (11,12,13). Understanding these effects could shed light on multidisciplinary rehabilitation strategies aimed at improving vocal performance and communication in older adults.

Therefore, the aim of this study is to investigate the effects of posture and deep cervical muscle training on voice function in older adults with presbyphonia.