Massage and music seem to work so well together in healing environments by soothing patients and caretakers alike.
by Daniel Kobialka, D.M.A.
Anyone visiting an institution such as a hospital or nursing home will notice how agitated patients can become due to the combined stresses of being ill, injured, or needing ongoing assistance; being away from home, familiar surroundings, family and friends; and being in a strange place with its own sights, smells, noises, lights, etc.
Massage and calming music have been shown to alter the environment in nursing homes and hospitals, providing repetitive, soothing, structured sounds that replace disturbing stimuli for both patients and health care personnel. Music and massage soothe the patients, but also calm them by calming their caretakers as well. Minimizing shrillness, abruptness and carelessness can only comfort and ease the patients as well.
An experimental pilot study was conducted at the University of Arizona College of Nursing, Tucson, USA.(1), to research the effects of preoperative massage and music therapy on patients' preoperative, intraoperative, and postoperative experiences. Participants were assigned randomly to one of four groups--a group that received massage with music therapy, a group that received massage only, a group that received music therapy only, or a control group. Postoperative anxiety levels were significantly lower and postoperative prolactin levels were significantly higher for all groups except the control group.
Typically, no difference was noted between the three groups that received treatment, because there are so many other variables. Some people have 8-track minds, others have 1-track. Some people can multitask, others become easily distracted and lose focus. Some people are disturbed by noise, others are more comfortable in environments with a lot going on. Studies have shown the various preferences of different cultures in healing music; then there are the differences between age groups and memories associated with songs and styles of music.
Massage brings in a whole other set of variables, such as how familiar and comfortable patients are with massage. Some of the elderly still hold on to outdated prejudices linking massage therapists with the sex trade; others simply are not comfortable being touched, especially by unfamiliar people.
Just as there are stages of gently acclimating tiny newborns to touch therapy, there are ways to ease into massage treatments with anyone. And just as there are kinds of music that have uncomfortable associations with some people, there are advantages to using familiar music linked with favorable memories to relax, lessen pain, boost the immune system, and create positive behavioral changes. Preoperative massage accompanied by soothing instrumental music has been proven to lessen postoperative anxiety, pain, and lengthy recovery periods.
1. Using massage and music therapy to improve postoperative outcomes. From: AORN Journal | Date: 9/1/2003 | Author: McRee, Laura D.; Noble, Stacie; Pasvogel, Alice
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