Listening to music may speed up recovery from surgery, scientists say, by assisting in reducing heart rate and the perception of pain. A group of researchers conducted a thorough review of numerous studies focusing on the role of music in the recovery process post-surgery. After filtering through 3,736 studies, they identified 35 research papers that provided data on patient outcomes such as pain levels, anxiety, heart rate, and opioid use.
The analysis revealed that simply listening to music after surgery, whether through headphones or speakers, had significant effects on patients during their recovery period. Patients who engaged with music reported a notable reduction in pain and anxiety levels the day after their surgical procedures. Shehzaib Raees, one of the authors of the research, mentioned that although they couldn’t definitively claim that patients suffered less pain, the studies indicated that patients felt like they were in less pain.
Furthermore, individuals who listened to music consumed less than half the amount of morphine in comparison to those who didn’t incorporate music into their recovery process. The researchers also observed a decrease in heart rate by approximately 4.5 fewer beats per minute in patients who listened to music, thus aiding in better circulation of oxygen and nutrients throughout the body.
Eldo Frezza from California Northstate University College of Medicine highlighted that music could help patients transition from a state of wakefulness to normalcy post-surgery, potentially reducing stress during this critical period. The study suggested that a decrease in cortisol levels when listening to music could contribute to alleviating patients’ pain. Despite the positive findings, researchers acknowledged limitations in the analysis, such as the inability to control variables like the duration of music exposure for patients in the study.
Looking ahead, scientists aim to conduct a pilot programme to assess the effectiveness of incorporating music into a post-surgical environment more extensively. Dr. Frezza expressed optimism about the potential benefits of music, stating that it can provide comfort and a sense of familiarity to patients recovering from surgery. As the research on the impact of music on surgical recovery progresses, the positive effects observed thus far hint at the potential for music to play a vital role in enhancing post-operative care and patient well-being.