Music after Surgery

Frezza lead a team that found via a literature review “that the simple act of listening to music after surgery, whether with headphones or through a speaker, had noticeable effects on patients during their recovery period: Lower pain levels: Patients who listened to music had a statistically significant reduction in pain the day after surgery. . . . Reduced anxiety levels: Across all the analyzed studies, patient self-reported anxiety levels were reduced. . . . Less opioid use: Patients who listened to music used less than half of the amount of morphine compared to those who did not listen to music on the first day after surgery. . . . Lower heart rate: Patients who listened to music experienced a reduced heart rate (around 4.5 fewer beats per minute) compared with patients who did not listen to music . . . keeping a patient’s heart rate within a healthy range helps improve recovery.” The researchers recommend patients listen to music they enjoy and do not “prescribe” any particular type/style.

“Listening to Music May Speed Up Recovery from Surgery.” 2024.  Press release, American College of Surgeons, https://www.facs.org/media-center/press-releases/2024/listening-to-music-may-speed-up-recovery-from-surgery/