After 80 years of practice and research, there now exist many references to the clinical use of music in medical/dental treatment. Music as an audio-analgesic in dentistry was one of the earliest and most thoroughly investigated areas. For example, a study was done in 1948, that combined music with nitrous oxide-oxygen anesthesia; it was reported that the presence of music reduced vomiting, struggling, delirium, and enabled rapid emergence from the anesthetic stage, and decreased chair occupation time (for review, see Cherry & Pallin, 1948). Similar results were obtained from similar studies (Prickett, C & Standley, J, 1994). For instance, in 1983, a group of Japanese researchers found a significant reduction in blood pressure and pon.
Pain messages are two-way traffic. Inhibitory effects are achieved through the descending pathways, which reach from the conscious brain down to the gates in the subconscious brain and the spinal cord. The reason for this is that the gates are places where the flow of pain messages can be controlled or influenced (Wells & Nown 1998). By sending responses back to the periphery, the brain can ordered the release of chemicals that have analgesic effects, which can reduces or inhibit pain sensatied relaxing effect, can serve as a distraction from the aversive situation, controlling the volume and mix of the music and white noise may allow patient to feel more in control of an aversive situation, or all benefits may be due to a priori suggestion (Prickett, C & Standley, J, 1994).
Studies in a medical setting has shown that music successfully reduced pain during childbirth (for review, see Livingston, 1979). Other studies have shown that music paired with Lamaze exercises can reduce pain and length of labor while enhancing the euphoria of birth (for review, see Clark, McCorkle, & Williams, 1981; Codding, 1982; Hanser, Larson, & OÕConnell, 1983; Winokur, 1984).
Utilization of music during surgery has also been shown to have favorable result. For instance, studies shows that music could reduce anxiety in preoperative pediatric patients up to and during the time of the first anesthetic hypodermic (for review, see Chetta, 1981). Post-operative studies for obstetric / gynecologic patients shows that music can reduce pain up to 48 hours following surgery (for review, see Locsin, 1981). It was also demonstrated that post-operative patients using music as part of the healing process required less medication. Furthermore, studies using music as an anxiolytic with orthopedic, gynecologic, and urologic surgery patients shows a decreased in the levels of stress hormone in blood analysis (for review, see Tanioka, et al., 1985). In 1976, it was reported that after installing a Muzak system in the six-bed intensive care unit in St. JosephÕs Hospital in New York, that the rate of myocardial infarction and mortality dropped from 8 to 12 % below the national average (Prickett, C. & Standley, J., 1994). In addition, studies done with music in podiatric treatment shows a significant reduction in perceived pain (for review, see Bob, 1962).
In 1979, a researcher by the name of Christenberry documented the therapeutic uses of music with burn patients, including: alleviation if sterility in the patientÕs environment; distraction from constant pain from the injury and from treatments such as hydrotherapy, intravenous fluid therapy, and skin grafts; elicitation of movement for maintenance of joint mobility and to reduce contractures; augmentation of respiration exercises; and reduction of psychological trauma of permanent disability and scarring (Prickett, C & Standley, J, 1994). In addition, Christenberry referenced the following four variables as being essential in maximizing the effectiveness of music as an audio-analgesic tool for painful medial treatment:
In 1978, it was reported that in a pain rehabilitation clinic, combining music with exercise for persons with chronic pain, resulted in increase frequency and duration of exercises and decreased verbalization about pain (for review, see Wolfe, 1978).