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Summary
Electromyography was used to investigate abdominal muscle activity during singing
in four subjects, all of whom were trained classical singers. Results revealed regional
differences in abdominal activation during the expiratory side of the breathing cycle.
These were characterized by high-amplitude activity in the lateral region and low-amplitude
activity in the middle region. For three subjects, amplitudes were higher in the lower
lateral portion of the abdomen than the upper lateral portion. For the remaining subject,
amplitudes were higher in the upper lateral portion than the lower lateral portion.
Brief decrements in lateral abdominal activity often occurred in association with
the onset of the inspiratory side of the breathing cycle. Findings support the concept
that the abdomen plays an important role in the posturing of the chest wall for singing.
Key Words
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References
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Article Info
Footnotes
*Presented at the Seventeenth Symposium on Care of the Professional Voice, June 6–10, 1988, New York, New York.
Identification
Copyright
© 1989 Raven Press, Ltd., New York. Published by Elsevier Inc.
