According to numerous research studies the question – can music help relieve pain? is answered by an emphatic, yes! Experts have shown that music has great benefits for those with various kinds of pain.
Background
For hundreds of years professionals involved in health care have used music in some form to treat illness in both mind and body. These reports were basically of a nonscientific nature. However, scientific studies done in recent years have measured the benefits of treatments involving music.
Music Therapy
Because music can influence us both physiologically and psychologically it is receptive to treatment by trained music therapists. Music is an important area of therapy for stress management. Also biofeedback, guided imagery and other techniques play an important role in the treatment of people with stress-related disorders, according to Researcher, Jane Collingwood.
Recent Findings
“Listening to music can have a tremendous relaxing effect on our minds and bodies, especially slow, quiet classical music,” wrote Collingwood in an article, The Power of Music to Reduce Stress. “This type of music can have a beneficial effect on our physiological functions, slowing the pulse and heart rate, lowering blood pressure and decreasing the level of stress hormones.”
“In our hand therapy clinic at Webster Orthopedics in San Ramon, we select and play music that enhances the patient’s rehab experience and fosters a healing environment,” said Certified Hand Therapist, Deborah Vanderbilt-Anderson.* “Studies have substantiated the positive effects of music on chronic pain, pre and post-operative pain, as well as anxiety related to injury or illness,” said Vanderbilt-Anderson. “Some of our goals in working with pain management are to teach techniques to reduce muscle tension, reduce anxiety and stress, increase muscle control and improve breathing,” she explained. Techniques such as progressive neuromuscular relaxation (PNR), diaphragmatic breathing, visualization and biofeedback are all enhanced when playing light, soft music.
“Half an hour of music produced the same effects as 10 mgs. of Valium,” said Dr. Raymond Bahr of St. Agnes Hospital in Baltimore.
Dr. Sandra Siedlecki, of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, discovered that people in two music groups had a statistically significant effect over the control group that had no music exposure. The music groups had reduced pain, depression and disability and increasing feelings of power over their pain. The control group had no exposure to music thus did not experience the benefits of the two music groups.
Listening to music helps reduce pain by activating sensory pathways that compete with pain pathways thereby stimulating emotional response. Music, therefore, provides meaningful, intellectual and emotional engagement to help reduce pain.
“Music may have the most benefits for the anxiety-prone,” said Researcher, Denise Mann in a study, Music Can Ease Pain. “Engaging activities, like listening to music may be most effective for reducing pain for anxiety in persons who easily become absorbed in activities.” Researchers measured participant’s responses to pain via electrical activity in the brain, dilation of their pupils and other methods. These methods are considered more objective than self-reports about pain.
Listening to music is an excellent means of reducing stress and physical pain,” said Dr. Harris Mcllwain, in The Journal of Pain. Anahad O’Connor reports music exposure reduces pain responses. People who are anxious may find listening to music especially effective in helping to relieve pain.
There is almost universal agreement among researchers and pain management professionals that music can indeed help reduce pain in people who suffer from both mental and physical pain. Most professionals advocate that pain management treatment be under the guidance of trained professionals that are recognized experts in their field. This is not an area where amateurs should dabble.
There is a caveat however, not all people with varying kinds and degrees of pain will find relief listening to music. The positive side of the question is a significant percentage will find some real relief.
For people with chronic pain and distress – there is hope. There are many avenues for pain reduction or elimination. Music can be a source of non-drug intervention, the research says it can work – it may work for you – why not give it a try.
*The idea for this article was contributed by Deborah Vanderbilt-Anderson (MOTR/L, CHT) Certified Hand Therapist for Webster Orthopedics in San Ramon, CA.
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