One Good Thing about Music: When It Hits You, You Feel Less Pain after Surgery

​Music therapy interventions before, during, or after surgery can significantly decrease both anxiety and pain in adults, according to an April 17, 2018, article in the British Journal of Surgery. The authors conducted a meta-analysis of 81 studies including 7,385 patients on the effects of music interventions on anxiety and pain among adults undergoing surgery. For anxiety, the greatest effect occurred when the patient underwent a music intervention before an operation; however, those who were offered interventions during and after surgery also had significantly reduced anxiety. For pain, significant reductions were associated with postoperative music interventions.