Avaliação fisioterapêutica da força muscular respiratória em cantores populares adultos profissionais em São Luís - MA

Abstract

The voice is the primary working tool of a singer, and it is directly linked to a set of thoracic and abdominal muscles that provide a foundation for directing air to the vocal cords and producing sound. These muscles control respiratory mechanics and provide greater support for singing notes. When there is weakness, this mechanism can lead to functional changes, causing diaphragmatic overload, shortness of breath, and decreased effort tolerance. Currently, there is a scarcity of studies investigating the respiratory muscle strength of popular singers and confirming the benefits of singing on respiratory mechanics. Based on this, the research is conducted in a qualitative-quantitative, descriptive, cross-sectional, and observational manner. Its main objective is to investigate the impact of respiratory muscle strength on the vocal performance of professional adult popular singers. Specifically, the research aims to characterize the sample in terms of sociodemographic and professional aspects, the presence of vocal disorders, evaluate the inspiratory and expiratory muscle strength of singers using predictive data from the equations of Neder described in the literature, and relate respiratory muscle strength to vocal performance in this group of singers. The results indicate better performance in maximum inspiratory pressure (64.86%), with a deficit in maximum expiratory pressure of 56.75%. No differences were identified in the proportion of singers reporting any dysphonia symptoms from singing for extended hours. Additionally, regarding respiratory muscle strength and vocal problems, the values were not significant in establishing a relationship, suggesting that other factors, such as vocal technique, may be more involved in this context. Thus, it is understood that for good performance in singing, respiratory muscle strength does not significantly impact, although it contributes to the effective dynamics of pulmonary mechanics.