Frequency Transmission of Oscillation from External Whole-Body Vibration Platform to the Larynx

Abstract

<p>Purpose: This study investigates (1) the presence of frequency transmission of oscillation from an external whole-body vibration (WBV) platform to the larynx; and (2) the factors that influence this frequency transmission. Methods: Thirty participants (mean age = 22.3 years) with normal voice were exposed to four frequency-intensity levels of WBV (10 Hz-10%, 10 Hz-20%, 20 Hz-10%, 20 Hz-20%) and were instructed to produce the natural vowel /a/ three times during each WBV setting. The frequency was extracted from the middle 1-second of each electroglottographic (EGG) signal after passing through a Hann band filter with a range of 6–24 Hz. Linear mixed-effects models were applied to determine the factors that influenced the absolute deviation of the frequency transmission. Results: All participants exhibit an extracted EGG frequency that aligns with the external WBV frequency, deviating by − 0.6 to 1.2 Hz. The absolute deviation of WBV frequency transmission is consistent for both sexes across various WBV settings, except the 10 Hz-10% setting where men tend to exhibit significantly higher deviations (P = 0.018). Conclusion: Oscillations at a specific frequency are transmitted from an external WBV platform to the larynx. This study proposes the use of a “spring” system to investigate the effect of WBV on the larynx, and recommends further research to explore the potential of WBV in managing voice disorders.</p>