The hyoid muscles connect the lower part of your jaw to the hyoid bone, which is at the top of your voice box, or larynx. These muscles help to control the movement of your vocal folds, and you use them all day for swallowing, chewing, and speaking. Like any muscles, they can become tense or fatigued, making your voice sound tight or higher pitched than you expect. But like any muscles, they respond to stretching and conditioning. Do the following exercise for about one minute, three to five times a day.

• Close your mouth; keep your jaw relaxed.
• Lower your chin toward your chest.
• Use your fingertips to gently push the hyoid muscles upward. Do not rub them or massage them from side to side.
• Stretch the area from directly under your chin to the end of your jawbone close to your ear.