Practical Postural Techniques for Speech Therapists and Physiotherapists

Original Editor - Jess Bell based on the course by Mauro Banfi
Top Contributors - Jess Bell, Kirenga Bamurange Liliane and Kim Jackson

Introduction

There is a known link between posture and vocal quality, as well as posture and swallowing. When working with patients who have dysfunction in these areas, it is essential to have the skills to evaluate the impact of posture on these functions.

This page will discuss the practical components of a postural assessment that may be useful for speech therapists before briefly considering some methods for correcting posture. The theoretical aspects of the postural assessment are discussed here and here, and deglutition is discussed in detail here.

When assessing a patient’s posture, it is important to remain two or three metres from the patient in order to observe him / her fully. If you are using a postural grid app, it is necessary to be consistent when taking pictures (e.g. in terms of the patient’s position). For more information on using digital photography as an aid to postural assessment, please see the following articles:

• Two-dimensional digital photography for child body posture evaluation: standardized technique, reliable parameters and normative data for age 7-10 years
• Spinal postural alignment measurements using markerless digital photography

Evaluation in the Upright Position

The visual assessment of a patient should start in an upright, neutral position. In this position, it is important to verify the function of the vestibulospinal reflex. The vestibulospinal reflex works to maintain balance and posture by coordinating head movement with the action of the spinal muscles. The Rhomberg and Fukuda tests can be used to assess this reflex activity.

Rhomberg Test

The Rhomberg test is performed as follows:

• The patient stands with his / her feet together and arms crossed, held next to the body or arms forward in flexion
• The patient is asked to hold this position for 30 seconds with eyes open, and then for a further 30 seconds with eyes closed
• The therapist observes the patient from the front and back
• In a normal test, there will be a slight, gentle oscillation
• In an abnormal test, the patient:
  • Is unable to maintain the test position without opening his / her eyes
  • Has to increase his / her base of support to maintain the position
  • Experiences large oscillations

If your patient has an abnormal Rhomberg, it is necessary to stop testing and refer on for medical review as it may indicate a neurological problem.

Fukuda Test

The Fukuda test evaluates the tension of the rotatory action of the postural chain and is performed as follows:

• The patient stands with arms extended in a circle which is divided into sections and has a radius of one metre
• The patient is asked to step in place 50 or 100 times with his / her eyes closed, trying not to move from his / her initial position
• The room should be quiet and dimly lit in order to reduce the likelihood that a patient uses light or sound to orient him / herself
• The angle of rotation (i.e. deviation) and the distance of displacement (i.e. lateral shift) is measured
• An abnormal result for 50 steps is when a patient:
  • Rotates more than 30 degrees
  • Has a displacement of more than a 0.5 metres
• An abnormal result for 100 steps is when a patient:
  • Rotates more than 45 degrees
  • Has a displacement of more than a one metre

Test Progressions

If the patient's Rhomberg and Fukuda tests are normal, it is possible to further destabilise the system in order to evaluate the effect of the masticatory system and deglutition on postural control.

Deglutition

Repeat the Rhomberg test, but ask the patient to swallow while his / her eyes are closed. Look for:

• Lateral or posterior destabilisation
• Inclination (i.e. bending) or rotation of the head

Teeth in Contact

Remain in the Rhomberg position and ask the patient to close his / her mouth. Look for increased tension of the posterior chain.  

Decoaptation (i.e. opening) of the Temporomandibular Joint (TMJ)

While in the Rhomberg test position, place two balls of cotton wool between the teeth on each side and observe if this has any impact on postural control.

These progressions can then be assessed during the Fukuda test.

Posterior Analysis

The posterior observation provides information about:

• Tension in the shoulder elevators
• Scapula position
• Head inclination
• Asymmetry of the pelvis - e.g. lateral displacement
• Asymmetry in lumbar paravertebral muscle mass
• A difference in the space between the arms and the trunk on each side of the body
• Feet, ankle, knee alignment / position

Once you have completed a basic visual assessment, ask the patient to breathe in and out. Look specially for elevation of the shoulders in place of lateral movement of the ribs.

Profile / Lateral Analysis

Figure 1. Common postures that can be observed from a profile view.

From a profile (i.e. lateral) view, the therapist should observe the patient’s alignment, looking specifically at:

• Head position
• Cervical spine alignment
• Thoracic spine alignment
• Lumbar spine alignment

Common postural dysfunctions evident in a profile view are illustrated in Figure 1. After observing static posture, ask the patient to perform actions such as swallowing, respiration and singing and consider how these actions affect the patient's posture.

On inspiration, look for:

• Changes to the neutral position
• Retraction of the anterior part of the laryngeal chain

On swallowing, look for any large excursions:

• Slight flexion of the head during swallowing can be normal, but it can indicate retraction of the anterior laryngeal chain
• This type of retraction can be modified with re-education and manual therapy

Frontal Analysis

Figure 2. Frontal analysis of posture.

When observing a patient from the front, it is important to check if the following points are horizontally aligned (see Figure 2):

• Bi-pupilar line
• Bi-condylar line
• Bi-mammillary line
• Bi-styloid line
• Bi-iliac line
• Bi-patellar line
• Bi-malleolar line

In order to further challenge the postural system while observing the patient in this position, ask the patient to open and close his / her mouth. Look for normal descent of the larynx and observe / palpate the anterior part of the hyoid.

Next look for movement during respiration and fast inspiration. Check if there is more movement in the upper chest, the lateral part of the chest or in the abdomen. Singers tend to use the inferior part of their abdomen more for inspiration than their upper chest.

During respiration, it is useful to also observe the upper part of the neck and the head. Look for any flexion or extension (particularly during fast inspiration).

It is not possible to assess the diaphragm directly. However, the therapist is able to observe the muscles in the abdomen and use specific reference points in order to observe the effect of displacement of the visceral muscles during inspiration.

Sitting Analysis

Specific postural patterns may be apparent in sitting, including a forward head position. If a patient spends a lot of time in this position, his / her anterior chain may be retracted (see Possible Stretches section below).

Ask the patient to correct his / her posture, and see if he / she can maintain this position. Then assess inspiration in sitting. Check for:

• The amount of movement on inspiration, noting that the abdomen moves less freely in sitting
• Extension of the head
• Forward position of the head
• Elevation of the shoulders
• Tension of the anterior neck

Then assess swallowing in the sitting position. During swallowing, look for:

• Neutral position of the head
• Correct movement of the larynx and hyoid
• Any compensations (rotation, flexion, bending of the head)

Finally, test glissato (glide from one pitch to another) and staccato (short, separate notes). During glissato, look for:

• Extension, flexion or rotation during phonation
• Any tension of the perilaryngeal muscle masses (this is best observed from in front of the patient)

It is possible to ask the patient to increase the glissato range in order to evaluate perilaryngeal muscle effort and the impact of this range on the cervical spine - individuals who have no dysfunction will be able to maintain a neutral position at higher pitches.

During staccato, look at the movement of the larynx:

• The larynx should elevate and descend
• Check for any lateral movement or rotation of the larynx

It can be difficult to assess movement of the larynx, but it is possible to palpate movement with one finger. While palpating, also assess for any lateral tension or pain from the perilaryngeal muscles, the hyoid and hyoid muscles.

Postural Correction

When asking patients to correct their posture, there are three potential outcomes:

1. The patient can actively correct the problem without the help of the therapist
   • For these patients, it is useful to prioritise active rehabilitation
2. The patient can correct his / her posture, but only with the help of the therapist
   • If there is pain, management should prioritise techniques that reduce pain and that passively increase range of motion
   • Once pain is better managed, it is possible to move on to active rehabilitation
3. The patient cannot correct his / her posture OR if he / she can move, this postural correction causes pain
   • In these cases, treatment focuses on pain management, often with medical treatments (i.e. medication, surgery)
   • Passive treatments may be beneficial to maintain range of motion / proprioceptive control

When there is pain, it is necessary to consider red flags:

• Disc degeneration
• Cancer
• Vascular conditions

Necessary Compensations

In some instances, postural compensation may be necessary to achieve respiration or swallowing. When there is a neurological problem, it is important to respect the condition of the patient and to maintain respiration / deglutition, even if there are postural compensations.

Whole Kinetic Chain

When correcting posture, consider the effect a change has both locally and globally. It is important to try to correct the whole kinetic chain. For example, when actively correcting a hyper-lordosis of the lumbar spine, it may be necessary to also correct another aspect of the patient's posture further up the chain (e.g. a forward head position).

Nociceptive Stimuli

The TMJ, the masticatory system, masticatory muscles (e.g. masseter, temporalis, digastric etc) and trigger points can be sources of pain. In order to assess these areas:

• Place two fingers anterior to the ear in order to palpate the articular zone of the TMJ
• Move slightly anteriorly to palpate the TMJ capsule
• Move slightly anteriorly again to palpate masseter

Ask the patient to open his / her mouth and feel for movement of the TMJ - the mandible condyle rotates at the beginning of the movement and then slides forward. Movements of the TMJ are discussed in detail here.

Further information about the TMJ can be obtained by:

• Placing two fingers in the patient’s mouth and looking for symmetry of movement between sides
• Feel for cracking / other noises of the TMJ or pain etc
• Assess masseter bulk / size and compare sides
• Look for fibrosis, adhesions or trigger points
• Ask the patient to maximally open his / her mouth and measure this distance with the finger test:
  • Two fingers = the minimum normal
  • Three fingers = normal (when this is pain free, without problems)

It is also useful to assess for muscle hardness and trigger points in muscles such as:

• Masseter

• Temporalis
• Pterygoids
• Mylohyoid
• Sternocleidomastoid

In cases of TMJ dysfunction (TMD), the following points may be painful on palpation if there is an activation of the trigeminal nerve:

• Orbicular / ophthalmic area
• Maxillary part of the trigeminal nerve
• Middle and upper part of sternocleidomastoid

To determine if a radicular problem may be causing a patient’s symptoms (rather than TMD or laryngeal system dysfunction), the Spurling test can be used. A Spurling test is considered positive when symptoms of radiculopathy are reproduced (often in the arm). If the Spurling test only reproduces cervical pain, it tends to indicate that the pain is articular in origin.

Neck Range of Motion

Starting with extension, look for:

• Lateralisation of the larynx
• Ipsilateral traction
• Tension of the hyoid muscles and scalenes
• Upper chest compensation

Then ask the patient to flex. Look for:

• Posterior tension
• Alteration of the posterior masses

Ask the patient to rotate and look for:

• Anterior displacement of the head, which may be caused by tension of sternocleidomastoid, the peri-laryngeal area and the scalenes
• Compensation from the shoulder and other parts of the chest

Ask the patient to maintain a neutral position and to then move into side bending. Typically, a patient should be able to side bend and remain facing forwards (i.e. no rotation).

Larynx

While assessing the cervical spine, also look at the movement of the larynx:

• Place three fingers on the hyoid, thyroid cartilage, cricoid cartilage
• Have the patient breathe in and out
• On inspiration, it is important to determine if there is traction and which parts are affected. You may note traction of:
  • The cricoid
  • The thyroid cartilage
  • Or the hyoid, thyroid cartilage and the cricoid

Then ask the patient to move into cervical extension and assess the movement of the larynx:

• Look for lateralisation and displacement and consider where it occurs:
  • Upper part only (hyoid)
  • Middle part only (thyroid)
  • Or all three parts of the larynx

Finally assess the larynx when moving into cervical rotation. Repeat this movement, but ask the patient to inspire normally and then do a fast inspiration. Usually in fast inspiration, there will be traction on the inferior part of the larynx and a stabilisation of the upper part. This helps maintain the position of the upper part of the larynx.

Potential Stretches

Based on the assessment findings, the following stretches can be beneficial for patients with tension / retraction of specific muscle chains. These muscle chains are discussed in more detail here.

Anterior Muscle Chain

• Place two fingers on the inferior part of the mandible
• Extend the cervical spine
• Traction superiorly
• Hold for 30 seconds and repeat three times

Anterior Cross Chain

• Rotate patient's trunk to the ipsilateral side (i.e. the side you wish to stretch)
• Rotate the patient's head to the contralateral side
• The patient opens his / her mouth
• The therapist anchors the shoulder
• Apply traction
• Hold for 30 seconds and repeat three times

Posterior Cross Chain

• Ask the patient to open his / her mouth
• Keep tension on the mandible and infrahyoid muscles
• Place the head in slight cervical extension
• Depress the ipsilateral shoulder
• Hold for 30 seconds and repeat three times