In the recovery ward at UC San Diego Health, nurse Rod Salaysay relies on more than just medical tools like a stethoscope or thermometer — he also uses his guitar and ukulele. Between post-surgery medications, Salaysay plays tunes at patients’ request, ranging from folk songs and classical pieces like Minuet in G Major to movie classics such as Somewhere Over the Rainbow. The results are often visible: patients smile, relax, and sometimes even require fewer painkillers. “In hospitals, pain, anxiety, and worry often feed into each other,” Salaysay explained. “Music can help break that cycle.” Over the last twenty years, hospitals and clinics worldwide have increasingly turned to music therapy — both live and recorded — as studies continue to reveal its power to ease physical and emotional pain. While music’s emotional influence has long been understood, scientists are only now uncovering how music-induced analgesia — the process by which music reduces pain perception — actually works. Although a melody can’t replace strong pain medication, research published in Pain and Scientific Reports shows that listening to music can lessen pain intensity and increase a person’s tolerance to discomfort. What seems crucial, researchers say, is that patients choose the music themselves and listen attentively, rather than passively. “Pain is incredibly complex,” said Adam Hanley, a psychologist at Florida State University. “It’s shaped by both the body’s sensations and our emotional and mental responses to those sensations.” Even with the same condition, two people might experience pain differently. Acute pain comes from immediate physical triggers, while chronic pain involves long-term changes in the brain that heighten sensitivity. “Pain is processed and interpreted by the brain,” said Dr. Gilbert Chandler, a chronic spinal pain expert from Tallahassee Orthopedic Clinic, “and the brain can amplify or reduce those signals.” Music, experts note, helps redirect attention away from pain. Studies suggest that preferred music is especially effective, even more than podcasts or generic playlists. “Music doesn’t just distract — it engages the whole brain,” said Caroline Palmer, a psychologist at McGill University. “That’s why it changes how people experience pain.” Indeed, Kate Richards Geller, a Los Angeles-based music therapist, explains that engaging with music activates nearly every brain region, easing not just pain but also isolation and anxiety. The use of music for pain relief dates back to the 19th century, when patients listened to melodies during dental procedures before anesthetics were common. Modern researchers continue to explore what makes it most effective. In one experiment at Erasmus University Rotterdam, scientists tested 548 participants across five music genres — classical, rock, pop, urban, and electronic — to measure how long they could withstand cold-induced pain. All genres helped, but none outperformed the others. “The best music is simply what you like,” said study co-author Dr. Emy van der Valk Bouman, noting that familiar songs may trigger memories and emotions that enhance resilience. Allowing patients to choose their music can also restore a sense of control and agency, said Claire Howlin of Trinity College Dublin, whose research shows that self-selected songs can boost pain tolerance. Hanley’s studies further indicate that focused, daily listening may gradually reduce chronic pain, offering an uplifting “emotional bump” without side effects. For many, it’s a powerful, drug-free remedy. Cecily Gardner, a jazz vocalist from California, said music helped her cope with illness and brought comfort to others in pain. “Music reduces stress, connects people,” she said, “and transports you somewhere better.” Source: AP
