Actively Recruiting

Phase Not Applicable
Age: 18Years +
All Genders
ID06383091

Impact of Manual Therapy on Laryngeal Function Following Total Thyroidectomy

Led by Johns Hopkins University · Updated on 2025-06-15

20

Participants Needed

2

Research Sites

N/A

Total Duration

On this page

AI-Summary

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating whether adding neck manual therapy, stretches, and pain neuroscience education to voice exercises and scar massage can reduce swallowing and voice complaints after total thyroidectomy. The study focuses on patients with malignant or benign thyroid disease and aims to assess voice clarity, pitch, quality, scar tethering, and quality of life improvements following surgery. Participants will be randomly assigned to one of two groups. One group will receive anterior neck manual therapy, neck stretches, pain neuroscience education, voice exercises, and scar massage, while the other group will receive voice exercises and scar massage along with placebo manual therapy, placebo stretches, and placebo pain education. Interventions are delivered by trained Speech-Language Pathologists during scheduled sessions before and after surgery. During the study, participants will attend four visits with their endocrine or laryngology surgeons for endoscopic evaluations and tests, as well as five Speech-Language Pathology sessions for intervention and assessments. They will complete a journal to track home exercise practice. Researchers will monitor various acoustic voice measures, swallowing quality of life, laryngeal sensation, scar quality and tethering, and voice-related quality of life from baseline to one year after surgery. Adverse effects will also be observed throughout the study.

CONDITIONS

Brief Title

Impact of Manual Therapy on Laryngeal Function Following Total Thyroidectomy

Who Can Participate

Age: 18Years +
All Genders

Eligibility Criteria

Eligible

You may qualify if you...

  • Individuals with malignant or benign thyroid disease scheduled for total thyroidectomy
  • Native English speakers
  • Age 18 years or older
Not Eligible

You will not qualify if you...

  • Prior completion of voice therapy
  • Current smokers
  • Presence of organic vocal fold pathology or mucosal changes affecting vibration (e.g., scar, polyp, nodules)
  • Pre-existing unilateral or bilateral vocal fold paralysis
  • History of prior neck or chest surgery including neck dissection
  • Pre- or post-operative abscess or inflammation
  • History of radiation, chronic cervical pain, or abnormal baseline swallowing
  • Use or planned changes of supplemental hormones
  • Greater than 10% unexplained weight loss
  • Recent aspiration pneumonia
  • History of esophageal surgeries or interventions

AI-Screening

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Your Study Journey

Screening

Duration - 2 to 4 weeks

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial.

1 visit (in-person)

Outpatient Treatment

Duration - Duration not specified

Participants receive manual therapy, neck stretches, pain neuroscience education, voice exercises, and scar massage or placebo versions of these interventions with a trained Speech-Language Pathologist.

Multiple therapy sessions with a trained Speech-Language Pathologist

Long-term Monitoring

Duration - Up to 1 year

Participants are assessed for voice clarity, voice pitch, swallowing quality of life, laryngeal sensation, scar quality, and potential adverse effects over one year after treatment.

Assessments at baseline and 1 year

Trial Site Locations

Total: 2 locations

1

Johns Hopkins Hospital

Baltimore, Maryland, United States, 21287

Actively Recruiting

2

Suburban Hospital

Bethesda, Maryland, United States, 20817

Actively Recruiting

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Research Team

C

Claire W Ligon, M.Ed.

V

Vaninder Dhillon, MD

How is the study designed?

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Masking

DOUBLE

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Model

PARALLEL

Primary Purpose

SUPPORTIVE_CARE

Number of Arms

2

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Published Research Related To This Trial

Laryngeal Manual Therapies for Behavioral Dysphonia: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.

Vanessa Veis Ribeiro, Vanessa Pedrosa, Kelly Cristina Alves Silverio...

https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/28844806