Singing Therapy for Young People With Cystic Fibrosis: A Randomized Pilot Study

Link: http://mmd.iammonline.com.libproxy.wlu.ca/index.php/musmed/article/view/MMD-2012-4-3-3/192

Citation: Irons, J. Y., Kenny, D. T., McElrea, M., & Chang, A. B. (2012). Singing therapy for young people with cystic fibrosis: A randomized controlled pilot study. Music and Medicine, 4(3), 136-145.

Affiliation: University of Sydney, Charles Darwin University

Abstract: Singing is not merely a vocal expression but also a physical activity involving the lungs and respiratory muscles. The purpose of this
study was to evaluate singing as an adjunct therapy for young people with cystic fibrosis (CF). In a randomized controlled study,
51 hospitalized children (mean age ¼ 11.6 years, 35% male) participated in either 8 singing or 8 recreational sessions. Respiratory
muscle strength using maximal inspiratory and expiratory pressure (MIP and MEP, respectively), spirometry, and quality of life
(QoL) were assessed at baseline (T1), postintervention (T2), and follow-up (T3). The singing group demonstrated statistically
significant increases in MIP and MEP at T2 and T3, while no statistically significant changes were evident in the control group.
In the QoL measurements, both groups showed improvement in some domains. The results indicate that singing has the potential
to improve the respiratory status and QoL of young people with CF.

Keywords: cystic fibrosis, quality of life, respiratory muscle strength, singing