Music May Help to Ease Chronic Pain

A recent study published in the Journal of Advanced Nursing examined the effect of music on 60 people with chronic pain.

Those who listened to music reported a 21% reduction in pain levels and a 25% decrease in related depression compared to non-listeners.

Music listeners heard music through headphones for one hour a day for a week. Half of the music listeners chose their favorite music and the other half selected from a list of five relaxing tapes. Both groups showed consistent improvements.

Music also helped people feel less disabled by the pain, which was the result of conditions such as osteoarthritis, degenerative disc disease, and rheumatoid arthritis.

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Source: Siedliecki Sandra et al. "Effect of music on power, pain, depression and disability." Journal of Advanced Nursing 54.5 (2006):553-63.

photo credit: © Paolo Ferla