Singers and neck pain: what we look at in the clinic

José De San Juan Guerrero valora el cuello y los hombros de una paciente sentada, en su consulta de Málaga
Contenidos mostrar 1 Who looks after the voice 2 What we do not do here 3 What we do look at 4 How the first…

Singing uses the whole body, and people who sing daily end up with neck and back complaints. But the voice and the larynx belong to other professionals.

If you are in Málaga and would like it assessed at the practice: neck pain in Málaga.

Who looks after the voice

The larynx, the vocal folds and voice production are the field of the ENT specialist and the speech therapist. They examine, diagnose and retrain the voice. In professional singing there is also the phoniatrician.

Any persistent hoarseness, loss of voice or discomfort while singing has to be seen by one of them, not by a spine clinic.

What we do not do here

We do not work on the voice, the larynx or the vocal folds.

We do not do vocal retraining or singing technique.

We are not going to suggest that adjusting the spine improves your voice. There is no basis for saying that.

What we do look at

The musculoskeletal side of singers and musicians, which is our field:

  • Neck pain and sustained tension in the neck and shoulders.
  • Mid-back pain from hours of rehearsal, standing or seated.
  • Low back pain from sustained postures.
  • Mechanical jaw joint discomfort.

Long rehearsals, carrying instruments and performing on your feet all take their toll on the back, just as in any other demanding profession. That is what is assessed here.

How the first visit works

We start by listening: how long it has been going on, how it started, what makes it better and what makes it worse, and what you have been told before. Then comes the physical examination and the computerised postural analysis, and an explanation of what we found before starting any treatment. If you bring reports or imaging, they are read alongside your history.

If what worries you is your voice, your route is the ENT specialist and the speech therapist.

Chiropractor and physiotherapist in central Málaga, in English · C/ Córdoba 6 · +34 629 245 594

This clinic works on musculoskeletal complaints of the spine and joints. We do not diagnose or treat systemic, respiratory, autoimmune, metabolic or neurological disease, and we do not replace prescribed medical treatment. If you have a diagnosis of that kind, your specialist is the one who manages it. What we can look at is the back, neck or joint pain that comes along with it.

Reviewed by José De San Juan Guerrero, Doctor of Chiropractic, graduate of Sherman College, USA, and registered physiotherapist (Andalusia, no. 5960). Last reviewed: .

References

  1. Stachler RJ, et al. Clinical Practice Guideline: Hoarseness (Dysphonia) (Update). Otolaryngology–Head and Neck Surgery. 2018. PubMed
  2. Cerda-Díaz L, et al. Musculoskeletal disorders in musicians: an overview of systematic reviews. Occupational Medicine. 2026. PubMed
  3. Rodríguez-Gude C, et al. Musculoskeletal pain in musicians: prevalence and risk factors - a systematic review. International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics. 2023. PubMed
  4. Blanpied PR, et al. Neck Pain: Revision 2017. Journal of Orthopaedic & Sports Physical Therapy. 2017. PubMed

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