Soothing sounds: Music reduces pain after spinal surgery

Popping on a pair of headphones and enjoying a little Mozart may soon be a valid prescription. A study, published by The American Journal of Orthopedics, found that patients treated with musical therapy have lower levels of pain compared to those receiving conventional postoperative care after spinal surgery.

Researchers from New York's Mount Sinai Beth Israel's Louis Armstrong Center for Music and Medicine (LACMM) have incorporated music into patient recovery as a crucial part of recovery without medication.

"This study is unique in its quest to integrate music therapy in medicine to treat post-surgical pain" said John Mondanaro, the study's lead author and clinical director at LACMM. "Postoperative spine patients are at major risk for pain management challenges."

The study included 60 patients who had underwent spinal fusion surgery, splitting them evenly into two groups. One group received conventional postoperative care while the remaining 30 patients were provided a 30-minute musical therapy section occurring 72 hours after surgery in addition to conventional care. The music therapy patients were given the choice between live music for relaxation and joint singing and/or drumming.

Results were measured according to the visual analog scale (VAS) pain ratings before and after surgery in both groups. VAS levels in patient receiving conventional care increased from 5.20 to 5.87. VAS scores of musical therapy patients fell from 6.20 to 5.09.

"The degree of change in the music group is notable for having been achieved by non-pharmacologic means with little chance of adverse effects," said Joanne Loewy, DA, co-author of the study and director of LACMM. "Pain is subjective and personal, and warrants an individualized approach to care. Certified, licensed music therapists are able to tailor treatment to each patient's musical preferences and meet their pain level."