Music Therapy for Chronic Pain

Overseen By Bunty Shah, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Must not be taking: Beta blockers

Disqualifiers: Cognitive impairment, Non-English, Hearing problems, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 2

Duration: 1 day

30 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial focuses on using music therapy to help reduce anxiety and pain in individuals with chronic lower back pain during certain medical procedures. The researchers aim to determine if playing a patient's favorite music during procedures like epidural steroid injections can make a difference compared to not playing any music. Individuals who regularly undergo these procedures for back pain may be suitable candidates for the trial. Participants should not have hearing problems or use hearing aids. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative pain management strategies through music therapy.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial excludes patients taking beta blocker medication, so if you are on beta blockers, you would need to stop taking them to participate.

What prior data suggests that music therapy is safe for chronic pain treatment?

Research has shown that music therapy is generally safe and well-tolerated. Many studies have found it helps reduce pain and anxiety. Specifically, 11 out of 16 studies reported a clear decrease in pain levels after using music therapy. A study at Mount Sinai Beth Israel found that music therapy made patients feel more comfortable and reduced their pain after spine surgery.

Music-based treatments are considered a safe way to manage both long-term and short-term pain. They have been used successfully in various medical settings without major safety issues. Overall, evidence suggests that music therapy is a safe option for people dealing with chronic pain. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about music therapy for chronic pain because it offers a non-invasive and potentially soothing alternative to traditional treatments like medications and injections. Unlike standard pain management options that often rely on pharmaceuticals, music therapy works by engaging the brain's reward and relaxation pathways, potentially reducing the perception of pain. This innovative approach allows patients to experience comfort during procedures without the side effects typically associated with drugs, making it a promising addition to chronic pain management strategies.

What evidence suggests that music therapy is effective for reducing anxiety and pain in chronic lower back pain patients?

Research has shown that music therapy, which participants in this trial may receive, can help reduce pain and anxiety in people with chronic pain. In one study, pain levels dropped from an average of 4.9 to 3.5 on a pain scale after music therapy. Another large study found that music therapy sessions with specific goals for managing pain reduced pain by at least 2 points. A review of several studies also found that music therapy helps lower agitation and provides temporary pain relief. Additionally, patients in community hospitals experienced significant pain reduction with music therapy. Overall, the evidence supports music therapy's effectiveness in easing pain and anxiety. ^{6 7 8 9 10}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Bunty Shah

Principal Investigator

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 with chronic lower back pain who are undergoing standard lumbar procedures. It's not for those who can't consent, don't speak English, take beta blockers, have a pacemaker set at a fixed rate, or have hearing issues.

Inclusion Criteria

I am receiving standard spinal procedures like epidural or facet injections.

I am either female or male.

Exclusion Criteria

I have hearing problems or use hearing aids.

I am unable to give consent for myself due to cognitive impairment.

I am currently taking beta blocker medication.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

1-2 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo lumbar spinal interventional procedures with or without music therapy

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for anxiety and pain levels immediately after the procedure

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Music Therapy
• No Music

Trial Overview The study tests if listening to music during lumbar procedures can reduce anxiety and pain. Patients will either receive music therapy or no music to see how it affects their reported feelings of anxiety and pain as well as changes in vital signs.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Music Therapy Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Music of the subject's preferred genre will be played during the subject's standard of care lumbar spinal interventional procedure (including: epidural steroid injections, facet injections, medial branch blocks).

Group II: No Music Active Control 1 Intervention

No music will be played during the subject's standard of care lumbar spinal interventional procedure (including: epidural steroid injections, facet injections, medial branch blocks).

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

Milton S. Hershey Medical Center

Lead Sponsor

Trials

515

Recruited

2,873,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

Music therapy serves as a complementary treatment for critically ill patients in intensive care, enhancing the effects of conventional medical treatments.

The intervention has both physiological and psychological benefits, suggesting it can improve overall patient well-being during critical illness.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music therapy in ICU. Coughlan, A.[2015]

Music therapy significantly contributed to the rehabilitation of a severely injured service member by improving various functional areas such as range of motion, strength, articulation, and social integration, as reported through clinical notes and patient feedback.

The integration of music therapy with traditional rehabilitation methods was highly valued by the patient and treatment team, enhancing motivation and participation, and helping to prevent social isolation by promoting community engagement through music.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music therapy applied to complex blast injury in interdisciplinary care: a case report. Vaudreuil, R., Avila, L., Bradt, J., et al.[2020]

A review of 12 clinical studies involving 922 cancer patients indicates that music therapy can lead to short-term improvements in mood, relaxation, and reductions in anxiety and pain, particularly in pediatric oncology settings.

Case vignettes illustrate that music therapy can help patients express emotions and shift focus from their illness to a healthier mindset, suggesting its potential as a supportive treatment in cancer care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

The Use of Music Therapy During the Treatment of Cancer Patients: A Collection of Evidence. Boyde, C., Linden, U., Boehm, K., et al.[2020]

A study involving 55 inner-city adults with chronic pain showed that an 8-week vocal music therapy program significantly improved self-efficacy and pain interference, indicating its potential as an effective intervention for chronic pain management.

Qualitative feedback from participants highlighted benefits such as enhanced self-management, motivation, and social engagement, suggesting that vocal music therapy not only addresses pain but also improves overall emotional well-being.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Vocal Music Therapy for Chronic Pain Management in Inner-City African Americans: A Mixed Methods Feasibility Study. Bradt, J., Norris, M., Shim, M., et al.[2022]

Music therapy is an effective complementary treatment for cancer patients, helping to improve mood, reduce stress, pain, and anxiety, and enhance relaxation during their treatment process.

Integrating music therapy into supportive cancer care can significantly promote overall wellness and improve both physical and emotional well-being, contributing to a better quality of life for patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music therapy in supportive cancer care. Stanczyk, MM.[2022]

A meta-analysis of 183 studies across 11 medical specialties found that music therapy interventions have significantly greater positive effects on outcomes like pain, well-being, mood, and nausea/vomiting compared to music medicine interventions.

The analysis particularly highlighted benefits for patients with cancer, those who are terminally ill, and patients with HIV, indicating that music therapy can be an effective complementary treatment in these populations.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Effects of music and music therapy on medical patients: a meta-analysis of the research and implications for the future. Dileo, C.[2022]

A study involving 150 seriously ill patients across various inpatient units demonstrated that music therapy significantly reduced anxiety levels after a single bedside session.

The intervention was found to be feasible and well-received, with patients showing high interest and satisfaction, indicating that music therapy can be effectively integrated into general inpatient care.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Soothing the heart with music: A feasibility study of a bedside music therapy intervention for critically ill patients in an urban hospital setting. Fallek, R., Corey, K., Qamar, A., et al.[2020]

In a study involving 126 mechanically ventilated patients in intensive care units, preferred music playlists were analyzed to understand their impact on managing anxiety through patient-directed music listening interventions.

The findings highlight the importance of music selection in therapeutic interventions, suggesting that involving a board-certified music therapist can enhance the effectiveness of music listening protocols in clinical settings.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Analysis of Preferred Music of Mechanically Ventilated Intensive Care Unit Patients Enrolled in a Randomized Controlled Trial. Heiderscheit, A., Johnson, K., Chlan, LL.[2023]

Music therapy is an effective non-drug approach for managing pain and symptoms in patients with long-term and life-threatening illnesses, helping to reduce pain perception through distraction and mood enhancement.

The article reviews various methods and techniques of music therapy, supported by case studies that illustrate its practical application in pain management.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Music therapy in pain and symptom management. Magill-Levreault, L.[2022]

Music therapy has been shown to be an effective treatment for various conditions, including chronic pain, migraines in children, and chronic tinnitus, supported by moderate to large effect sizes in multiple meta-analyses.

The growing body of evidence suggests that music therapy should be considered as a viable intervention in clinical settings, with future research needed to compare its effectiveness against standard treatments.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Outcome research in music therapy: a step on the long road to an evidence-based treatment. Nickel, AK., Hillecke, T., Argstatter, H., et al.[2011]

Citations

1. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12042639/

The effect of music therapy for patients with chronic pain Music therapy significantly reduced CP in the test group compared with that in the control group post-intervention and depression, no evidence ...

2. news.uhhospitals.org news.uhhospitals.org/news-releases/articles/2025/09/large-study-finds-certain-music-therapy-interventions-may-be-more-beneficial-for-pain

Large Study Finds Certain Music Therapy Interventions May ... Additionally longer music therapy sessions and those documented with an explicit goal of managing pain were more likely to reduce pain ≥2 units.

3. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0885392425006608

A Live-Music Therapy Protocol for Pain Management in ... Pain significantly decreased from 4.9 (95% CI: 4.3–5.4) to 3.5 (95% CI: 2.9–4.2) (P < 0.0001) following music intervention, regardless of analgesic intake. We ...

4. painmanagementnursing.org painmanagementnursing.org/article/S1524-9042(25)00192-4/fulltext

Does Music Have a Role in Pain Management? This systematic review highlights numerous published studies showing how music therapy decreases agitation, provides temporary and in many ...

5. journals.lww.com journals.lww.com/painrpts/fulltext/2023/06000/effectiveness_of_music_therapy_within_community.4.aspx

Effectiveness of music therapy within community hospitals:... Adult patients with moderate-to-severe symptoms receiving music therapy in community hospitals reported clinically significant mean reductions in pain (2.04), ...

6. pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12449309/

Effect of music therapy on pain in rheumatic and ... A total of 11 studies out of 16 reported a statistically significant decrease in pain intensity following music therapy interventions.

7. cdn-uat.mdedge.com cdn-uat.mdedge.com/files/s3fs-public/ajo_04601013e.PDF

Music Therapy Increases Comfort and Reduces Pain in ... At Mount Sinai Beth Israel, we conduct- ed a mixed-methods study addressing the effects of music therapy interventions on the recovery of patients after spine ...

8. sciencedirect.com sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1526590022000153

Isn't There Room for Music in Chronic Pain Management? Music-based treatments have emerged as an efficacious and safe means to enhance the management of acute and chronic pain.

9. withpower.com withpower.com/trial/phase-low-back-pain-9-2022-432af

Music Therapy for Chronic Lower Back Pain The research indicates that music therapy and related interventions are generally safe and have been used in various clinical settings to manage pain, anxiety, ...

10. journals.lww.com journals.lww.com/md-journal/fulltext/2025/08220/the_effects_of_music_therapy_on_intraoperative_and.37.aspx

The effects of music therapy on intraoperative and... Studies have demonstrated that perioperative music interventions can positively influence pain degree after surgery, anxiety, usage of sedatives ...