Many people with arthritis rely on complementary medicine, products, and techniques -- in combination with conventional treatments -- to reduce pain. Now a new study shows that listening to soothing music really helps.
If you suffer with osteoarthritis you probably know that there are many effective medications available to relieve your pain. Oral medications are used most often, but some people find that injections into the affected joint or topical products applied to the skin surrounding a painful joint also help reduce pain. However, although pain relievers make you feel better, they can’t cure your osteoarthritis. Researchers have not yet identified any medications that can reverse or prevent worsening of the condition.
But did you know that music can help to ease your pain, too? New research documents the common sense idea that listening to music for an hour every day can reduce pain, depression, and other symptoms associated with chronic pain. In the study, the researchers assigned 60 people with chronic pain to one of three groups: music of their own choosing, music chosen by the researchers for its relaxing quality, or no intervention (the control group).
The study included people with long-term pain from osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, or back problems. Their chronic symptoms were rated at the outset by standard rating scales for pain, depression, disability, and feelings of power over their pain. Compared with the control group, the two music groups showed significant improvements in these measures (whether or not they had chosen the music). People in the two music groups reported between 12% and 21% less pain, as measured on two pain scales. The control group reported an increase in pain of 1–2%.
Assessment of the music groups also showed about 25% less depression, up to 18% less disability, and about 8% more sense of power over their pain than the control group. This study was reported in the Journal of Advanced Nursing (Volume 54, page 553).
