Comprehensive Summary
This study examined whether self-selected music reduces pain and anxiety in emergency department patients with musculoskeletal back pain. Patients were randomly assigned to either listen to self-selected music or wear noise-cancelling headphones, with pain and anxiety levels measured using a 0-10 numerical rating scale. Among the 40 enrolled patients, those in the music group reported significantly lower anxiety scores compared to the noise-cancelling group (3.0 ± 0.7 vs 5.5 ± 0.7, P = 0.016) as well as lower pain scores (6.1 ± 0.4 vs 7.5 ± 0.4, P = 0.037). The authors suggest that music may work through distraction, emotional regulation, and activation of endogenous pain-modulating pathways, offering a simple, non-pharmacological intervention for acute pain management.
Outcomes and Implications
Back pain is the leading cause of years lived with disability globally, affecting approximately 540 million people, with musculoskeletal causes being most common. Emergency department management of back pain typically involves nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), muscle relaxants, opioids, and benzodiazepines. However, these pharmacological approaches often fail to address anxiety, which can amplify pain perception and worsen patient experience. Music therapy represents a readily accessible, cost-effective, and safe adjunct to standard ED care that could reduce reliance on medications with significant side effects. Implementation would be straightforward, requiring only headphones and access to music streaming, making this intervention immediately applicable in most emergency departments without significant resource allocation or training.