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Peer-reviewedCC BY 4.0Journal of Clinical Medicine

Manual Laryngeal Therapy Across Clinical Populations: A Scoping Review

  • Ben Barsties v. Latoszek1
  • Zoë Thijs2
  • Paula-Marie Dammer3
  • Melina Maria Ippers4
4 affiliations
  1. 1School of Health, Education and Social Sciences, SRH University of Applied Sciences Heidelberg, 40215 Düsseldorf, Germany
  2. 2Department of Communication Disorders and Occupational Therapy, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA
  3. 3Faculty of Social- and Health Care Sciences, Ostbayerische Technische Hochschule, 93053 Regensburg, Germany
  4. 4Faculty of Social Work and Health, HAWK University of Applied Sciences and Arts Hildesheim/Holzminden/Göttingen, 31134 Hildesheim, Germany
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Abstract

Background/Objectives: Manual laryngeal therapy is used in conservative behavioral management and encompasses hands-on techniques to address functional manifestations of dysphonia, dysphagia, and laryngeal discomfort. However, evidence regarding clinical indications, treatment protocols, and outcomes remains heterogeneous. This review mapped the available evidence on manual laryngeal therapy approaches, treated populations, outcome measures, and reported treatment effects. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, 6 databases were searched from inception to 26 August 2026, as well as grey literature. Primary studies and meta-analyses were charted separately to distinguish evidence levels and avoid double-counting. Study characteristics, clinical populations, therapeutic approaches, outcome measures, and reported treatment effects were extracted and synthesized descriptively. Results: The review identified 41 eligible publications comprising 4 meta-analyses and 37 primary studies, which comprised randomized controlled trials (n = 12), cohort studies (n = 5), case series (n = 12), and case studies (n = 8). Evidence concerned voice disorders, with Laryngeal Manual Therapy (LMT; 29.8%) and Manual Circumlaryngeal Therapy (MCT; 27.0%) representing the most frequently investigated approaches, followed by Voice Massage and Cricothyroid Visor Maneuver (each 8.1%), Larynx Manipulation and Vanderbilt Manual Intervention (each 5.4%), and other single evaluated manual techniques/approaches (16.2%). Treatment protocols and outcome measures varied substantially. Significant positive effects were reported for 53% of statistically assessable LMT outcome parameters and 62% of MCT. Meta-analyses consistently reported significant improvements in voice quality parameters following MCT, alongside benefits in selected voice function and articulation measures. Conversely, a meta-analysis investigating LMT found no significant improvements in perceived voice quality or self-evaluation compared with voice exercises or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Conclusions: Manual laryngeal therapy has mostly been investigated in functional voice disorders. Evidence suggests combined manual techniques with voice exercises to benefit voice outcomes, while passive treatment may better address laryngeal discomfort and related symptoms. Standardized protocols, diagnosis-specific outcome measures, and controlled studies are needed to establish clinical effectiveness.

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Cite

BibTeXRIS
BibTeX
@article{latoszek2026manual,
  title = {{Manual Laryngeal Therapy Across Clinical Populations: A Scoping Review}},
  author = {Ben Barsties v. Latoszek and Zoë Thijs and Paula-Marie Dammer and Melina Maria Ippers},
  journal = {Journal of Clinical Medicine},
  year = {2026},
  month = nov,
  doi = {10.3390/jcm15218671},
  url = {https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8671},
  note = {CC BY 4.0},
}
RIS
TY  - JOUR
TI  - Manual Laryngeal Therapy Across Clinical Populations: A Scoping Review
AU  - Ben Barsties v. Latoszek
AU  - Zoë Thijs
AU  - Paula-Marie Dammer
AU  - Melina Maria Ippers
PY  - 2026
DA  - 2026/11/06
JO  - Journal of Clinical Medicine
DO  - 10.3390/jcm15218671
UR  - https://www.mdpi.com/2077-0383/15/21/8671
AB  - Background/Objectives: Manual laryngeal therapy is used in conservative behavioral management and encompasses hands-on techniques to address functional manifestations of dysphonia, dysphagia, and laryngeal discomfort. However, evidence regarding clinical indications, treatment protocols, and outcomes remains heterogeneous. This review mapped the available evidence on manual laryngeal therapy approaches, treated populations, outcome measures, and reported treatment effects. Methods: Following PRISMA-ScR guidelines, 6 databases were searched from inception to 26 August 2026, as well as grey literature. Primary studies and meta-analyses were charted separately to distinguish evidence levels and avoid double-counting. Study characteristics, clinical populations, therapeutic approaches, outcome measures, and reported treatment effects were extracted and synthesized descriptively. Results: The review identified 41 eligible publications comprising 4 meta-analyses and 37 primary studies, which comprised randomized controlled trials (n = 12), cohort studies (n = 5), case series (n = 12), and case studies (n = 8). Evidence concerned voice disorders, with Laryngeal Manual Therapy (LMT; 29.8%) and Manual Circumlaryngeal Therapy (MCT; 27.0%) representing the most frequently investigated approaches, followed by Voice Massage and Cricothyroid Visor Maneuver (each 8.1%), Larynx Manipulation and Vanderbilt Manual Intervention (each 5.4%), and other single evaluated manual techniques/approaches (16.2%). Treatment protocols and outcome measures varied substantially. Significant positive effects were reported for 53% of statistically assessable LMT outcome parameters and 62% of MCT. Meta-analyses consistently reported significant improvements in voice quality parameters following MCT, alongside benefits in selected voice function and articulation measures. Conversely, a meta-analysis investigating LMT found no significant improvements in perceived voice quality or self-evaluation compared with voice exercises or transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation. Conclusions: Manual laryngeal therapy has mostly been investigated in functional voice disorders. Evidence suggests combined manual techniques with voice exercises to benefit voice outcomes, while passive treatment may better address laryngeal discomfort and related symptoms. Standardized protocols, diagnosis-specific outcome measures, and controlled studies are needed to establish clinical effectiveness.
SN  - 2077-0383
ER  -