Myofascial Release Improves Posture, Muscle Tension and Voice Quality

Myofascial release (MFR) has been used for improving body posture, muscle tension and voice, especially for performers. However, scientific evidence is still lacking. A study from Portugal aims to verify the effects of MFR in teachers’ posture, muscular tension, and voice quality. The study was published in the Journal of Voice.

Twenty-four school teachers were randomly allocated into two groups, designated as Group 1 (G1; n = 12; received MFR first) and Group 2 (G2; n = 12; control group first). All participants received treatment as prescribed. The MFR involves diaphragm release, suprahyoid and infrahyoid fascia, cervical and suboccipital fascia treatment. After  14 days,  the treatments were switched between groups. Assessments on posture, voice quality, and muscle tension were performed before and after interventions.

The results showed that

• Voice: statistically significant differences were found when intervention was applied to both groups for maximum phonation time (MPT). The acoustic variables did not differ.
• Auditory-perceptual analysis of voice: statistically significant differences were found when intervention was applied in both groups for Grade in G2  and for Roughness in G1.
• Photogrammetry assessment of posture: statistically significant differences were found when MFR was applied, while the control group did not show a difference.
• Algometry and muscle tension assessed through palpation: statistically significant differences were found when intervention was applied in all muscles.

The authors concluded that MFR effectively improved voiced quality in terms of MPT, two subscales (Grade and Roughness) of the GRABASH scale. MFR relaxed muscle tension and had an immediate effect on improving posture, especially related to the head.