ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: To identify and characterize the presence of body pain related to voice usage in choral singers. METHODS: A questionnaire investigating the occurrence of voice problems, vocal self-evaluation, and a report of body aches was given to 50 classical choral singers and 150 participants who were non-singers. Thirteen types of aches were investigated that were distributed into two groups: larynx proximal ache (temporomandibular joint, tongue, sore throat, neck, back of the neck, shoulder, and pain while speaking) and distal ache (headache, backache, chest, arms, hands, and ear ache). RESULTS: Classical choral singers had less presence of pain than the general population. The most related pain types reported in singers were sore throat, chest, and shoulder, respectively. CONCLUSION: Reduced vocal signs of pain in singers may suggest that singers can benefit from vocal training once they have better voice usage due to voice practice, offering a protective -effect to the development of voice disorders since voice training builds up a better musculoskeletal endurance.
Subject(s)
Music , Pain , Singing , Adolescent , Adult , Female , Humans , Male , Middle Aged , Occupational Diseases , Pain/classification , Pain Measurement , Self-Assessment , Young AdultABSTRACT
OBJETIVO: Identificar e caracterizar dores corporais em coristas eruditos. MÉTODOS: Foi aplicado um questionário autoexplicativo a 50 coristas eruditos e 150 sujeitos da população geral, com questões de caracterização pessoal e sobre a presença e frequência de 13 tipos de dores corporais: cabeça, pescoço, nuca, ombros, costas, peito, mão, ouvido, língua, articulação temporomandibular, garganta e dor ao falar. RESULTADOS: Coristas eruditos relataram menos dores do que a população geral. Os tipos de dores mais relatados por coristas foram garganta, costas e ombros, respectivamente. CONCLUSÃO: A baixa ocorrência de dores corporais em coristas eruditos sugere que o uso vocal saudável, aliado ao treino da musculatura respiratória e de produção vocal, pode oferecer uma maior resistência musculoesquelética, prevenindo o aparecimento de doenças associadas a ela.
PURPOSE: To identify and characterize the presence of body pain related to voice usage in choral singers. METHODS: A questionnaire investigating the occurrence of voice problems, vocal self-evaluation, and a report of body aches was given to 50 classical choral singers and 150 participants who were non-singers. Thirteen types of aches were investigated that were distributed into two groups: larynx proximal ache (temporomandibular joint, tongue, sore throat, neck, back of the neck, shoulder, and pain while speaking) and distal ache (headache, backache, chest, arms, hands, and ear ache). RESULTS: Classical choral singers had less presence of pain than the general population. The most related pain types reported in singers were sore throat, chest, and shoulder, respectively. CONCLUSION: Reduced vocal signs of pain in singers may suggest that singers can benefit from vocal training once they have better voice usage due to voice practice, offering a protective effect to the development of voice disorders since voice training builds up a better musculoskeletal endurance.
ABSTRACT
OBJETIVO: Caracterizar os tipos de dores corporais apresentados por teleoperadores e verificar sua relação com o uso da voz em atividades laborais. MÉTODOS: Duzentos e trinta e cinco teleoperadores e 235 indivíduos da população geral responderam um questionário contendo questões fechadas sobre dores corporais proximais e distais à laringe, problemas de voz, atuação profissional e consulta à especialista. Investigou-se se há relação e/ou associação de cada tipo de dor com os demais aspectos do questionário. RESULTADOS: As dores corporais foram referidas por ambos os grupos, entretanto, os teleoperadores as referiram em maior número. Teleoperadores tiveram maior necessidade de se afastar do trabalho e relataram mais dores corporais (ombros, pescoço, cabeça, costas, braços, mãos e ouvidos) que a população geral. Houve relação da maioria das dores corporais com problemas vocais, afastamento do trabalho por problemas vocais e consulta ao otorrinolaringologista no grupo de teleoperadores. Na população geral houve tendência de relação entre jornada de trabalho e dores no peito e nas mãos. Não houve diferença na comparação de presença de dores corporais entre os gêneros em ambos os grupos. CONCLUSÃO: Teleoperadores sofrem mais dores distais e proximais à laringe e têm maior necessidade de se afastar do trabalho por problemas de voz que a população geral, evidenciando o desgaste vocal e físico desses profissionais.
PURPOSE: To characterize types of body aches presented by call center operators and to verify the relationship of the selected body aches with voice use in work activities. METHODS: 235 call center operators and 235 individuals from the general population responded to a questionnaire with closed questions about body aches (classified into proximal and distal larynx aches), voice problems, professional activity and search for specialized help. It was investigated whether there was a relationship between each type of pain and the other aspects addressed by the questionnaire. RESULTS: Body aches were reported by both groups; however call center operators reported a greater number of them. Call center operators also reported having greater need of calling sick and more aches (shoulders, neck, head, back, arms, hands and ears) than the general population. There was a relationship between most of the body aches with voice problem, absenteeism from work due to voice problems and appointment with an otolaryngologist in the group of call center operators. In the general population, the workload tended to relate to chest and hand pains. There was no difference between the groups when the body aches were compared. CONCLUSION: Call center operators suffer from more body aches that are both proximal to and distal from the larynx and have greater need to call sick due to voice problems than the general population, fact that highlights the vocal and physical fatigue of these professionals.
ABSTRACT
PURPOSE: This epidemiological study compared the frequency and adverse effects of voice disorders in Brazilian teachers and nonteachers. METHODS: A standardized interview/questionnaire was administered to 3,265 participants; 1,651 teachers; and 1,614 nonteachers recruited from all 27 Brazilian states. RESULTS: Prevalence of reporting a current voice disorder was 11.6% for teachers and 7.5% for nonteachers, respectively (χ2(1)=16.1, P<0.001). Sixty-three percent of teachers and 35.8% of nonteachers reported having experienced a voice problem at some point during their lifetime (χ2(1)=246.6, P<0.001). Teachers reported a higher number of current (3.7) and past (3.6) voice symptoms as compared with nonteachers (1.7 current, 2.3 past) and more often attributed these symptoms to their occupation (P<0.001). Teachers, as compared with nonteachers (1) more frequently reported that their voice limited their ability to do certain tasks within their current occupation (29.9% of teachers vs 5.4% of nonteachers; P<0.001); (2) experienced more voice-related absenteeism over the past year (12.1% of teachers missed 5 or more days of work vs 2.4% of nonteachers; P<0.001); and (3) more often considered changing occupations in the future because of voice problems (16.7% of teachers vs 0.9% of nonteachers; P<0.001). The magnitude of voice-related dysfunction among teachers was similar across Brazilian states, and regional characteristics did not appear to significantly influence the results. CONCLUSION: This large epidemiological study comparing teachers and nonteachers confirms that teaching at school is a high-risk occupation for developing voice disorders. These voice disorders contribute to reduced job performance, attendance, and force many Brazilian teachers to consider changing occupations in the future because of their voice.
