Pain Management and Music

Complimentary Therapy

The use of medication is often accompanied by unwanted side effects. Researchers may well have found a way around this problem for post operative surgery patients -- music!!

The Cochrane Library, a publication that reviews and reports on research in the health care field, looked at 14 studies, involving a total of 489 post op patients, and their pain response to music. The studies found that while medication was the best and number 1 form of pain reduction, music came in as a solid second. One physician commented on the findings by adding that music reduces intensity of pain as well as the amount of medicine needed in acute post op pain situations.

Researchers speculate that the effect of music on pain may be due in part to attention distraction and/or the relaxation effect provided by the therapy.

However you slice it, music is non-invasive. It's worth a try!!



Bibliography
1 Press Release.Music Quiets Pain After Surgery.April 18, 2006. Newswise. Retrieved from: http://www.newswise.com/articles/view/519725/?sc=dwtr April 19, 2006