Listening To Music After Surgery Speeds Up Recovery, Scientists Say

Listening to music speeds up recovery after surgery by reducing pain, anxiety and heart rate, according to a study presented at the annual meeting of the American College of Surgeons.

Researchers at the University of California Northstate School of Medicine reviewed existing studies on the potential of music to help people recover after surgery.

In total, they reviewed 3,736 scientific papers, focusing on 35 that included precise data on the impact of music on reducing pain , anxiety , as well as measurements of heart rate and analgesic consumption after the intervention. 

Results of the study 

The conclusion is clear: the reduction in cortisol levels that occurs when listening to music, whether through headphones or speakers, facilitates the recovery of patients in four areas: 

1. Less pain sensation : Patients who listened to music experienced a statistically significant reduction in pain the day after surgery, with a 19% decrease on the Numeric Rating Scale and 7% on the Visual Analog Scale. 

2. Reduction in anxiety : In all the studies analyzed, the levels of anxiety reported by patients were reduced by an average of 3%, according to the measurement scales of this disorder. 

3. Lower opioid consumption : Patients who listened to music consumed less than half the amount of morphine than those who did not listen to music the day after the intervention, with an average of 0.758 milligrams compared to 1,654. 

4. Lower heart rate : Patients who listened to music experienced a reduction in heart rate of about 4.5 beats per minute less compared to those who did not. This data is “key” to maintaining the heart rate in a healthy range, allowing for better circulation of oxygen and nutrients, especially in the operated areas. 

An accessible and effective therapy

“While we cannot say specifically that patients feel less pain, the studies agree that patients perceive that they feel less pain, and that is equally important,” emphasizes Shehzaib Raees, one of the authors and a researcher at the University of California Northstate Medicine.

Eldo Frezza, a professor of surgery at the same university, adds: “When patients wake up after surgery, they sometimes feel very scared and don’t know where they are. Music can help ease the transition from the awakening phase to returning to normal and reduce stress during that transition.”

Although the reviewed studies did not control for length of time or type of music, the California team plans to conduct a pilot program to evaluate the use of music in the surgical setting and intensive care unit. 

Raees concludes by saying: “We believe that music can help people in a number of ways after surgery; it has been shown to comfort and bring a patient back to a familiar place, and these two factors are crucial in recovery.”