Proposal of measurement of vertical larynx position at rest

Abstract

Aim: The purpose of this research is to propose a procedure to measure the vertical larynx position in the neck at rest, of young adults without vocal complaint. Study Design: Transversal cohort study. Material and method: A number of 68 subjects, aged between 18 to 44 years, 33 female and 35 male, participated in this study. The referential points used for this research were the right and left jaw angle (RJA and LJA), the centre of the cricoid arc cartilage (CC) and the centre of the sternal furculum (SF). In order to obtain the measures, the subjects were asked to be sitting still with their head stretched up to the highest possible position. The devices used were a drawing compass and a 20-centimeter ruler. Results: The measurement procedure demonstrated to be easily executed and it didn't show any discomfort to the participants. There was no statistically significant difference between sexes related to the vertical larynx position in the neck; however the women presented higher larynx position than men. The vertical larynx position was easily obtained and it seems to be a very interesting parameter to the intra-subject clinical follow-up.