Singers and Abdominal Surgery

Recovery and Rehabilitation of the Respiratory Processes
ABSTRACT

by Dr. Karen Wicklund, July 3, 2000
NATS National Convention, Philadelphia

IMPORTANT: The information contained in this presentation is intended for educational purposes only. It is not provided in order to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition of the body, and the authors, sponsoring organization, publisher, printer(s), and distributor(s) accept no responsibility for such use. Those individuals suffering from any disease, illness, or injury should consult their physician.

Abdominal surgery, whether of emergency or elective nature can present a major disruption in a singe5's working life since open laporatomy directly affects the muscles of inspiration and expiration. Because most open abdominal procedures require anywhere from six to twelve weeks of healing time before the abdominal muscles can be fully engaged (Phipps 1991, Ch. 22), singers need adequate information in order to prepare for and recover from laporatomy. This paper will describe and illustrate the anatomy and function of the singer's abdominal musculature; behavioral and psychological preparations needed for abdominal surgery; types of abdominal surgeries/incisions affecting singing musculature; recovery expectations and rehabilative therapy of the respiratory muscles.

Selected references:

Crocco, John, M.D. Gray's Anatomy., Fifteenth Edition. New York: Bounty Books. 1977: 358-364.

Gould, W.J. and Okamura, H. Respiratory training of the singe5. Folia Phoniatrica 1974; 26: 275-286.

Kearns, P. C. Exercises to ease pain after abdominal surgery. RN. 1986, July: 45-48.

Kisner, Carolyn and Colby, Lynn Allen. Therapeutic Exercise: Foundations and Techniques, Second Edition. Philadephia: F. A. Davis and Co., 1990.

Leanderson, R., Sundberg, J., and von Euler, C. Breathing muscle activity and subglottal pressure dynamics in singing and speech. Journal of Voice 1987; 1 (3): 258-261.

Miller, Richard. The Structure of Singing. New York: Shirmer Books, 1986: 26-28.

Phipps, W., Long, B., and Woods, N. Chapter 22 (Postoperative Nursing) in Medical Surgical Nursing, Fourth Edition. St. Louis: Mosby Publishing, 1991.

Smith, L.K., Weiss, E.L. and Lehmkuhl, L.D. Brunner's Clinical Kinesiology, Fifth Edition. Philadelphia: F. A. Davis Company, 1996.

Zinner, Michael, ed. Chapter 13 (Preoperative and Postoperative Management) in Maingot's Abdominal Operations. Stamford, CT: Simon and Schuster, 1997.

Important: The information on this website is intended for educational purposes only. It is not provided in order to diagnose, prescribe, or treat any disease, illness, or injured condition of the body. The authors, publisher, printer(s), and distributor(s)/website provider(s) accept no responsibility for such use. Those individuals suffering from any disease, illness, or injury should consult their physician.

Last updated June 26, 2000

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