Prevalence and correlation

vocal tract discomfort and voice quality alterations in rugby players from "Equipo Reserva UNC", Córdoba 2018.

Abstract

Rugby is a high-performance sport, it implies a high level of stress and physical demands and involves an impulsive communicative style that its manifests as tension of cervical muscles in vocal emission that generates elevation of the larynx with a compressed vocal production. The literature regarding voice and rugby relation it is limited, a study indicates that 15 rugby coaches had "sore throat" as the most frequent vocal symptom. No investigations related to the voice of players were found.

This study aims to determine the prevalence and correlation between vocal tract discomfort symptoms (VTDS) and voice quality (VQ) alteration in rugby players (RP) from "Equipo Reserva UNC" in 2018.

Descriptive, cross-sectional, correlational study. 23 masculine RP were assessed before training, ages between 18-33, not professional or occupational voice users, without toxic habits. Vocal Tract Discomfort self-assessment was applied. Sustained vocal and automatic series emissions were recorded with Praat software to evaluate audio-perceptually the VQ with GRBAS scale. The data were statistically analyzed with Excel and Infostat software.

The most-reported VTDS were: Dryness (91%) and Itching (60%). According to the GRBAS scale, we found mild and moderate VQ alteration in G (grade of dysphonia) 91%, R (roughness) 78% and S (strain) 91%. There were a positive correlation between VTDs total score and G, R and S parameters, the correlation was significant between G and VTDs (PC=0.49; p = 0.04).

There was a high prevalence of "dryness" and "itchy" symptoms and alteration of G, R and S parameters, with a significant relationship between VTDS and G. Symptoms of dryness and itching would indicate alteration of the vocal tract mucosa, while G, R and S parameters of VQ alteration would indicate an audible impression of irregular glottic pulses and phonatory strain. The STDS reported by RP would be related to audible alterations at vocal folds. This research revealed that RP could be a risk population of vocal disorders