Hi Thomas Schoenberger here. As confirmed again last month, it seems there may be a role for music in managing pain depending on the individual’s response to music. I’m looking forward to researching this area a bit more.
In December 2011, The Journal of Pain (which is quite an odd name for a journal don’t you think?) published an interesting article on a study done on pain response and listening to music. The title of the article is Individual Differences in the Effects of Music Engagement on Responses to Painful Stimulation. In summary, the study found marked response differences between subjects listening to music with pain stimulation and those without. However, they also found that some individuals have a higher pain management effect than others. Additional studies apparently are planned.
Apparently there was another article in 2006 in the Journal of Advanced Nursing that looked at the management of pain through music that demonstrated benefits in a controlled study. An article discussing the results may be found here.
Signing off for now –
Thomas Schoenberger
Sources: Siedlecki, Sandra L. and Good, Marion. “Effect of music on power, pain, depression and disability.” Journal of Advanced Nursing Vol. 54.5. June, 2006: 553-562.
Journal of Advanced Nursing Press Release, 5/24/06