What is Voice Physio?
Voice Physio, also known as Vocal Physiotherapy, is the treatment of the Larynx and surrounding structures that influence laryngeal movement and sound production. A Voice Physio will assess the larynx and consider head, neck, and shoulder posture; the jaw; breathing; and lifestyle factors such as stress, sleep, diet, movement, training, and rest.
Who needs Voice Physiotherapy?
Throughout my career, I have provided Vocal Physiotherapy services for a variety of clients, from Teachers to Barristers, Actors, all the way to professional Singers including the Spice Girls, Annemarie, Oasis, Steps, The Wanted, Ella Eyre, UK and West End productions, English National Opera, and National Opera Studios. I now provide Voice Physiotherapy in Fremantle, Perth, for a variety of clients.
Most frequently, I see people who experience symptoms when
using their voice, such as;
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voice fatigue,
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throat or neck pain or strain with use,
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the sensation of a lump in the throat - known as globus pharyngeus,
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excessive throat clearing,
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jaw pain,
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face pain,
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a change in voice quality - sounding gravelly, weak, airy
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a reduction in vocal range/ loss of upper or lower vocal register.
What Voice Conditions do you treat?
Voice symptoms can start for a variety of reasons; overuse,
post-respiratory illness, secondary to other conditions etc. The specific pathologies I treat include Vocal Dysphonia, Pre-nodular oedema, Nodules, Globus Pharyngeus, as well as secondary symptoms linked to Vocal Conditions such as Nodules, Polyps, Vocal Fold Paralysis, Functional Neurological Disorders (FND).
Who should I see first?
I will work with your ENT Specialist, Speech Therapist, Vocal or Singing Coach, GP, and other health professionals in your team to ensure you receive the best care. Voice Physiotherapy is often most effective alongside Speech Therapy; however, patients don't need to wait until they have seen an ENT or Speech Therapist to start Voice Physio. We can improve symptoms and provide advice and voice strategies early on to start you feeling better, particularly if waitlists are long!
Why see me for Voice Physio in Perth?
Voice physiotherapy is an exceptionally niche area of physiotherapy and is not taught as part of undergraduate physiotherapy training, This means physiotherapists are not exposed to voice-specific assessment and management during their studies.
Developing competency in this area requires external education, clinical experience and exposure to patients with voice-related presentations.
For over a decade, I worked with London's West End, immersed in the Performing Arts medicine scene. I worked closely with world leading experts and medical professionals, including Vocal Coaches, and Speech Therapists, and Ear Nose and Throat specialists.
I've treated a variety of voice users including professional performers, supporting them to work in vocally demanding rehearsal and performance environments, often required to maintain a high vocal load to perform 8 show weeks for months on end, or maintain demanding touring schedules.
This has allowed me to gain extensive and in depth experience with a variety of voice presentations, including providing me with an understanding of the physical demands and expectations placed on performers and professional voice users, and of how factors such as breathing, posture, neck and jaw function, movement and physical load can interact with vocal performance.
I now bring this experience to practice in Perth, providing expert voice physiotherapy for singers, actors, performers and non-professional voice users.
