October 22, 2024

Music Therapy Speeds Surgery Recovery, Lowers Painkiller Use

Music could help speed recovery after surgery, offering patients a drug-free way to manage pain and stress, according to a new review.

Researchers found that listening to music significantly reduces anxiety, pain, and heart rate in patients waking up from surgery, leading to a lower need for painkillers. Surgical patients exposed to music required less than half the amount of morphine compared to those who weren't, the study revealed.

"When patients wake up after surgery, they can feel disoriented and frightened," said Dr. Eldo Frezza, professor of surgery at California Northstate University College of Medicine. "Music can ease the transition and reduce stress during this vulnerable time."

In their review, Frezza and his team analyzed 35 previous studies on the role of music in post-surgery recovery. They discovered that patients who listened to music experienced significant reductions in pain and anxiety, particularly on the first day after surgery.

"While we can't definitively say they're in less pain, the perception of less pain is equally important," noted Shehzaib Raees, the study's lead researcher and a third-year medical student. "Music allows patients to relax and disconnect, helping them calm down without needing to focus on their discomfort."

The research also found that music lowered patients' heart rates, promoting better circulation and oxygen flow, which aids healing.

These findings were presented at the American College of Surgeons annual meeting in San Francisco, though they are considered preliminary until they are published in a peer-reviewed journal.

The researchers believe music helps by reducing cortisol, the body's stress hormone, and can easily be incorporated into recovery rooms at little cost. The type of music doesn't seem to matter, as the benefits come from whatever the patient enjoys most.

"We're not suggesting any one genre is better than another," Frezza emphasized. "Music's comforting presence can help patients feel more at ease and create a sense of familiarity, which is crucial for recovery."