Listening to music after surgery not only relieves pain, but also has another very important benefit

Research shows that listening to music can speed recovery after surgery.

“When patients wake up after surgery, they can sometimes feel anxious and they don’t know where they are,” says researcher Eldo Frezza. He explains that listening to music can be helpful for many people. “Music can ease the transition from waking to normal and help relieve the stress that comes with it,” he explains. And that has several very important benefits.

Rehabilitation after surgery
Researchers examined existing studies on music and how it can help people recover after surgery. The studies reviewed included information on patient outcomes, such as pain and anxiety, as well as data on heart rate and use of powerful painkillers. In their analysis, the researchers found that simply listening to music after surgery, whether through headphones or through a speaker, had a significant effect on patients while they were get over it.

Less pain
Patients who listened to music reported a significant reduction in pain the day after surgery. Pain was measured with two validated scales where patients had to self-report their pain levels. “Although we cannot say with certainty that patients experience less pain, the studies show that they themselves report that their pain is reduced,” said researcher Shehzaib Raees. “We think that’s just as important. By listening to music, people can detach from their pain and relax.”

Decreased opioid use
In addition, the researchers found that patients who listened to music used less than half as much morphine on the first day after surgery compared to those who did not. music (mean of 0.758 mg versus 1.654 mg for those without music).

Reduces anxiety
In addition, music seems to make people more anxious. In all of the studies reviewed, patients reported that their anxiety levels decreased by about 2.5 points (or 3 percent).

Lower heart rate
And finally, it seems that patients who listened to music had a lower heart rate (about 4.5 beats per minute less) than those who did not listen to music. According to the researchers, this is a very important finding, because maintaining a healthy heart rate can improve recovery. This ensures that oxygen and nutrients are pumped efficiently through the body, especially to the functional areas. On the other hand, a heart rate that is too fast (think heart rate above 100) can produce an abnormal heart rhythm, which can be dangerous.

Accelerates recovery
In summary, the researchers conclude that listening to music can improve recovery after surgery. Music can help patients relax by reducing their anxiety, pain perception and heart rate. In addition, lowering cortisol levels while listening to music can also contribute to better recovery.

Passive
In short, do you want to find a creative way to speed up your recovery after surgery? Then maybe listening to music is the solution. Unlike more active therapies such as meditation or Pilates, which require a lot of concentration or movement, listening to music is a passive activity that patients can use almost immediately after surgery without much cost or effort. “They don’t have to put in much effort or focus and they can calm themselves down,” Raees said.

It doesn’t matter what music you choose; listen especially to your favorite songs. “We don’t want to say that one type of music is better than another,” Frezza said. “We believe that music can contribute to people’s recovery after surgery in many ways, as it provides comfort and creates a sense of familiarity.”