Person in hospital bed surrounded by musical notes, representing pain relief through music.

Tune In, Pain Out: How Music Eases Pain Before, During, and After Surgery

Elliot Brynn in Health & Wellness December 2025 • 4 min read.

"Discover the surprising power of music as a pain management tool in the perioperative setting – and how to make it work for you."

For centuries, music has been recognized for its therapeutic properties. Today, research is increasingly focused on understanding and leveraging music's ability to alleviate pain, especially within the context of medical procedures. Studies have demonstrated that music can positively influence pain perception across various medical settings, offering a non-pharmacological approach to pain management.

Acute pain following surgical interventions remains a significant challenge in healthcare. Despite the existence of guidelines for managing perioperative pain, many patients still experience inadequate pain relief. Traditional pain management often relies on opioids, which carry risks of side effects. This has led to growing interest in alternative, non-pharmacological therapies, with music emerging as a promising option.

This article examines the role of music as an analgesic in the perioperative setting, comparing its effectiveness when applied before, during, and after surgery. We'll explore how music can reduce pain and anxiety, optimize its use, and discuss the factors that influence its success.

The Soothing Science: How Music Dampens Pain Signals

Person in hospital bed surrounded by musical notes, representing pain relief through music.

The analgesic effect of music involves a complex interplay of mechanisms within the human body. Research suggests that music, particularly classical or preferred genres, can reduce stress and mitigate physiological stress responses. In the perioperative environment, the focus is on reducing anxiety, stress, and pain.

While the exact mechanisms aren't fully understood, it's known that enjoyable music activates the limbic system, which is involved in both emotional processing and pain modulation. This activation is believed to influence the affective component of pain, essentially making it less distressing. Furthermore, music may stimulate dopamine release, triggering the release of endogenous opioids that inhibit pain signals in the spinal cord.

Stress Reduction: Music reduces cortisol levels, easing tension.
Limbic System Activation: Enjoyable tunes engage emotional centers linked to pain perception.
Endorphin Release: Music may trigger the release of natural painkillers.

The type of anesthesia used during surgery significantly affects how a patient processes pain and perceives music. If a patient is too heavily sedated, they may not consciously register the music, negating its potential benefits. It seems music is most effective when the patient is aware and can actively engage with the auditory experience.

The Sound of Relief: Practical Steps for Using Music in Your Care

Music is a safe, accessible, and non-invasive method for managing pain and anxiety related to surgery. Studies show a trend towards benefitting from music in the perioperative context.

While the research indicates the potential for music to ease discomfort and reduce the need for medication, individual preferences play a crucial role. What one person finds soothing, another might find irritating. The key is to personalize the musical experience.

Ultimately, creating a more comfortable and positive experience for patients undergoing medical procedures should be a priority. Integrating music into the perioperative setting offers a promising avenue for enhancing patient well-being and promoting a smoother recovery. Further research will likely refine our understanding of how music can be used most effectively.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1007/s00482-018-0338-y, Alternate LINK

Title: Perioperative Musikinduzierte Analgesie

Subject: Anesthesiology and Pain Medicine

Journal: Der Schmerz

Publisher: Springer Science and Business Media LLC

Authors: L. Ernsten, P. Hepp, T. Fehm, N. K. Schaal

Published: 2018-11-08

Everything You Need To Know

How does music dampen pain signals during medical procedures?

In the context of surgery, music's analgesic effect involves several key mechanisms. It can reduce cortisol levels, easing tension. Additionally, enjoyable tunes engage the limbic system, which is involved in emotional processing and pain modulation. Finally, music may trigger the release of endogenous opioids, potentially leading to natural pain relief through the activation of the spinal cord.

Why is music considered a promising alternative to traditional pain management after surgery?

While guidelines exist for perioperative pain management, many patients still experience inadequate pain relief, often relying on opioids, which carry risks of side effects. Music offers a non-pharmacological alternative that can reduce pain and anxiety by influencing the affective component of pain and potentially triggering the release of endogenous opioids. This approach helps to optimize pain management while minimizing reliance on traditional medications.

How does anesthesia during surgery impact the effectiveness of music as a pain management tool?

The type of anesthesia used during surgery significantly affects how a patient processes pain and perceives music. If a patient is too heavily sedated, they may not consciously register the music, negating its potential benefits. Music appears to be most effective when the patient is aware and can actively engage with the auditory experience, allowing the limbic system to be activated and endorphins to be released.

How has music been recognized for its therapeutic properties, especially regarding pain relief in medical settings?

Music is known to have therapeutic properties, including the ability to alleviate pain, especially in medical procedures. Research indicates that music can positively influence pain perception by activating the limbic system and potentially triggering the release of endogenous opioids. This suggests that incorporating music into medical treatments can provide a non-pharmacological approach to pain management.

What specific physiological mechanisms are involved in the analgesic effect of music, and how do they contribute to pain management?

Music reduces stress and mitigates physiological stress responses. Enjoyable music activates the limbic system, involved in emotional processing and pain modulation, making pain less distressing. It stimulates dopamine release, triggering endogenous opioids that inhibit pain signals in the spinal cord. This combination provides a non-invasive way to manage pain by leveraging the body's natural responses, making it valuable in perioperative care.