Arytenoid asymmetry in relation to posture, neck tension and glottal attack in singers.

OBJECTIVES

To look at the incidence of arytenoid asymmetry in a group of healthy singers and to investigate whether the asymmetry correlates with posture, neck tension and glottal attack.

MATERIALS AND METHOD: The medical records and video recordings of 42 singers were reviewed retrospectively. Posture, neck tension and glottal attack were evaluated in relation to arytenoid asymmetry during adduction.

RESULTS

The number of singers was 42, with a male-to-female ratio of 2:1. The age range was 16-38 years, with a mean of 24±4.13 years. The total prevalence of arytenoid asymmetry was 50%, with a predominance in males and on the right side. The most common asymmetry was that of the cuneiform cartilages, accounting for 40.5% of the total sample and 81% of the total asymmetries. There was no correlation between arytenoid asymmetry and either posture, neck tension or glottal attack (p=0.343, 0.489 and 0.945, respectively).

CONCLUSION

One out of 2 singers is likely to have arytenoid asymmetry during adduction. The presence of asymmetry does not correlate with posture, neck tension or glottal attack.