Anxiety Self HelpFind helpful information about anxiety.

Music therapy, the use of music in a health care setting is a rapidly growing technique throughout many hospitals in the US. It is the clinical and evidence based use of music interventions

Children, teens, adults and seniors and a wide variety of physical disabilities, acute and chronic pain and mothers in labor have benefited from music therapy.

According to the American Music Therapy Association the idea of music as a healing influence dates back to the writings of Aristotle and Plato. During the 20th century the discipline began after World Wars I and II when community musicians of all types, both professional and amateur, went to Veterans hospitals around the country to play for the thousands of veterans experiencing both physical and emotional trauma from the wars.

Researchers at the University of Central Florida’s Department of Nursing created a study to determine if listening to music or having a period of quiet rest, before taking the first walk after surgery could reduce pain or anxiety. They also sought to determine if the music impacted heart and breathing rates, blood pressure and oxygen levels in people undergoing a total knee replacement surgery.

Fifty-six patients having this surgery were assigned randomly to a music listening group or a quiet rest group. Their pain was measured using a standard tool, and their physiology was monitored. The findings showed that there was no statistical difference between the two groups as the participants experienced a significant decrease in pain over time. The evidence supports the use of both to decrease pain and anxiety.

There is no risk of side effects and the possibility of decreased pain and anxiety has the capacity to prevent and or decrease the use of narcotic pain relievers. The researchers suggested that nurses can offer music as an intervention to decrease pain and anxiety in patients having knee replacement surgery.

Want to find out more about how to get well, then visit Elaine R. Ferguson, MD’s site and gem more info on music therapy for your needs.