The Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Scale: an analysis of singers with dysphonia and without vocal complaints.
Thalita Ferreira Rodrigues Lopes, Bárbara Pereira Lopes Lobo, Ana Cristina Côrtes Gama
PMID 35894307WHAT IT FOUND
Singers with voice disorders reported significantly more neck pain and daily functional limitations than singers without voice complaints.
On a 30-point neck disability scale, the voice-disordered group averaged 7.4 points compared to 2.7 points in the control group.
Key findings
01Singers with dysphonia had significantly higher scores on the Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Scale, indicating greater cervical dysfunction, compared to singers without self-reported vocal complaints.
02The study suggests an association between dysphonia and cervical complaints, but explicitly notes that further research is needed to verify a causal relationship.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study design is cross-sectional, so it cannot prove that neck pain causes dysphonia or vice versa; it only shows an association. The control group (G2) was defined only by self-reported absence of vocal complaints, without formal voice assessment, which may have included individuals with undiagnosed mild voice issues. Data collection methods differed between groups (in-person for G1, online for G2) due to pandemic restrictions, which could introduce bias. The study did not account for whether participants played musical instruments, which is known to affect posture and musculoskeletal health. Sample size was relatively small (62 total), and the groups were not matched for sex or other potential confounding variables beyond age.
Declared interests
Funding was provided by Brazilian government agencies CNPq and CAPES. The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume that treating neck pain will resolve the voice disorder. This study shows an association between neck pain and dysphonia in singers, but it does not prove that neck pain causes the voice problem, nor does it demonstrate that reducing neck pain improves voice quality.