Comparison of the Effects of Manual Circumlaryngeal Therapy Alone Versus in Combination With Herbal Therapy on the Voice Characteristics of Patients With Muscle Tension Dysphonia.

OBJECTIVES: Nowadays, complementary treatments, particularly traditional treatments for voice disorders, have gained significant importance. Among these, herbal treatments, such as those utilizing the Echinops plant, warrant further investigation. This study examined the effects of laryngeal manual therapy, both alone and in combination with the Echinops plant treatment, by analyzing changes in mean values before and after treatment.

STUDY DESIGN: Randomized Double-Blind Clinical Trial MATERIALS AND METHODS: The participants in the study were 40 patients suffering from Muscle Tension Dysphonia (MTD). The scores of Dysphonia Severity Index (DSI), Vocal Tract Discomfort (VTD), and Visual Analog Scale (VAS) were evaluated before and after the intervention. The participants were divided into two groups. The first group received laryngeal manual therapy, while the second group received both laryngeal manual therapy and the Echinops medication. Both groups underwent laryngeal manual therapy twice a week for ten sessions. However, the intervention group additionally received Echinops medication twice a day for 1 month. The results were analyzed separately within each group and between the two treatment groups.

RESULTS: DSI, VTD, and VAS indicators were associated with an improvement in the mean scores in both the laryngeal manual therapy group and the combined laryngeal manual therapy before and after treatment. Additionally, the combined laryngeal therapy group demonstrated an increase in the mean scores for all indicators except for the pain index during vocalization.

CONCLUSION: These results suggest that the medicinal treatment derived from the Echinops plant may facilitate more rapid recovery from inflammation, consequently improving voice quality.

CLINICAL TRIAL CODE: 67406, Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials.