Investigating the Effects of Warm-up Exercises on Acoustic Characteristics of Voice in Female Gym Coaches

Abstract

<h2>SUMMARY</h2><h3>Introduction</h3> A plethora of vocal enhancement and rehabilitation programs for voice professionals define vocal exercises irrespective of analyzing their effects on the specific population on which they are applied, in the established dose and often without considering the presence and absence of vocal alteration. So, in this study we investigated the impact of warm-up exercises (WUE) on the acoustic features of the gym coaches. <h3>Objective</h3> To determine the effectiveness of WUE on the acoustic characteristics of the voice in gym coaches. <h3>Study design</h3> This was a Quasi-experimental control group design study. <h3>Method</h3> The study was carried out through participation of forty-five female gym coaches with a mean age of 31.4 years (range: 19–44 years) in Mashhad gym salon. Participants were recruited into two conditions. In the first condition, participants did not receive the exercises for a week and were acoustically evaluated at the beginning and end of the week. In the second condition, participants received the exercises once a day for a week and were acoustically evaluated at the beginning and end of the week. Voice samples were included: at least 3 vowels / a / for at least five seconds. The voice samples analyzed by the Praat software recorder (Version 6.0.23) were collected to detect the acoustic characteristics of voice including fundamental frequency (f₀) (Hz), jitter (%), shimmer (dB) and noise to harmonic ratio (NHR) (dB). Finally, the data obtained from these two condition were compared. <h3>Results</h3> After WUE, a significant increased f₀, decreased jitter, decreased shimmer and decreased NHR were measured. (p-value < 0.005). <h3>Conclusion</h3> The WUE had an immediate positive effect on acoustic characteristics of voice)f0, jitter, shimmer and NHR(in the short term and this study suggests that the WUE is an effective technique for enhancing the overall voice quality of gym coaches.