Music Eases Post-Surgery Recovery: Reduces Stress, Anxiety, and Heart Rate
Listening to music can significantly aid recovery after surgery, according to new findings presented at the American College of Surgeons Clinical Congress 2024 in San Francisco. The research reveals that patients who listen to music experience lower anxiety, reduced heart rates, and require fewer opioids for effective pain management.
How Music Helps in Post-Surgical Recovery
When patients wake up from surgery, they often feel disoriented and anxious. Music can ease this transition, helping patients feel calmer, explains Dr. Eldo Frezza, Professor of Surgery at California Northstate University College of Medicine.
“Music helps patients adjust from the confusion of waking up after surgery to a more relaxed state, reducing stress during this critical period.”
Unlike active therapies such as meditation or Pilates, which require effort and concentration, listening to music is a passive activity. Patients can easily incorporate music into their recovery routine without extra cost or exertion.
What the Study on Music Therapy in Recovery Found
The research team reviewed 35 studies out of 3,736 on music’s role in post-surgical recovery. They identified significant benefits of listening to music after surgery, including:
- Pain Reduction: Patients listening to music reported less pain the day after surgery.
- Reduced Anxiety: Anxiety levels dropped by about 2.5 points (a 3% reduction) on patient-reported scales.
- Lower Opioid Use: Music listeners needed less than half the amount of morphine compared to patients who didn’t listen to music.
- Lower Heart Rate: Patients who listened to music had a reduced heart rate, approximately 4.5 beats per minute lower than non-listeners.
The Role of Perceived Pain in Recovery
Although it’s challenging to measure pain objectively, researchers noted that patients who listened to music felt they were in less pain
“Even if the actual pain levels may not change drastically, the perception of less pain is crucial for the patient’s recovery experience.”
Conclusion: Music as an Essential Tool for Post-Surgery Recovery
The findings suggest that incorporating music into post-surgical care can help
- Reduce stress
- Lower perceived pain levels
- Minimize opioid use
Music is an accessible, cost-effective tool that can improve the recovery experience for patients after surgery
Source: Inputs from various media Sources
Priya Bairagi
I’m a pharmacist with a strong background in health sciences. I hold a BSc from Delhi University and a pharmacy degree from PDM University. I write articles and daily health news while interviewing doctors to bring you the latest insights. In my free time, you’ll find me at the gym or lost in a sci-fi novel.
