Music can act as a natural analgesic and reduce the pain associated with needle insertion in a doctor's office or hospital. According to a new study published in the journal Frontiers in Pain Research, listening to the right music may help alleviate pain, and this finding could be very useful in performing painful medical procedures such as needle insertion.
The Impact of Music on Pain Perception
Dr. Andrei-Christinel Dargnia, a radiologist and the lead author of this research from the University Hospital Zurich, said: "Although needle insertion is a minor procedure, the level of pain can vary significantly from person to person." He added that the goal of physicians is not only successful diagnosis and treatment but also to ensure that these procedures cause the least discomfort for the patient.
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In this study, Dr. Dargnia and his colleagues examined 204 individuals undergoing MRI scans of the brain, spine, head, or neck and divided them into four groups. One group listened to soft and relaxing music, another group listened to a piece by Mozart, the third group listened to their favorite songs, and the fourth group, which acted as the control group, did not listen to any music.
Results and Analysis
Music was played for the first three groups before, during, and after the insertion of a catheter, which is a tube used to administer medications and contrast materials. The results showed that the groups that listened to Mozart and their favorite songs reported a significant reduction in pain compared to the control group. In particular, the group that listened to their favorite songs reported less pain just 30 seconds after the procedure compared to the other groups.
Although soft and relaxing music did not have a significant impact, the other groups showed that music can help release endorphins, which aid in reducing or eliminating pain. Additionally, music can calm the body, thereby reducing blood pressure, heart rate, and anxiety, all of which can contribute to pain reduction.
In the future, researchers plan to explore other types of classical music that may have similar or even better effects on pain relief. They also hope to determine whether music can serve as an analgesic for more severe pain.
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