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The relationship between singing quality and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM)
Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) looks back on a tradition that goes back thousands of years and is known in our culture above all through acupuncture for influencing various body functions. The World Health Organization (WHO) also recognizes acupuncture as a therapy for numerous illnesses and indicates these, among other things, for diseases of the respiratory and musculoskeletal systems.
Some studies concerning the use of TCM in vocal fold pathologies have shown its efficacy in eliminating or improving the problem. Not only macroscopically there was a decrease of anomalies, but also the vocal functions normalized.
The purpose of this study is to investigate whether defined ear acupuncture applications, supplemented by tuina applications - an old form of massage and manual therapy - lead to measurable improvements in breathing and voice function and thus in singing quality, even in healthy singing students. This is to be found out in 25 singing students with representatives from all vocal genres.
Depending on the result, the question arises whether the TCM applications have the potential to be a further helpful educational part in the training of professional singers in addition to the established pedagogical concepts.
Project management: Prof. Dr. med. Dipl-Mus. Alexander Schmidt, PD Dr. med. Philipp P. Caffier
Project coordination: PD Dr. med. Philipp P. Caffier, Dr. med. Achim Kürten (Center for Traditional Chinese and Integrative Medicine, St. Hedwig Hospital Berlin)
Project team: Prof. Klaus Häger (Professor, University of Music and Drama Rostock), Cand. med. Carsten Heimer