Hospitalization can result not only in physical stress from invasive treatments and therapies, but emotional stress as well from unexpected news, unfamiliar environments, inability to conduct normal activities and lack of control. Music therapy in the medical setting provides patients a familiar and positive way to cope with their hospitalization.
Through successful music experiences, patients can regain a sense of control, independence, and confidence. Music can be a medium of communication and a strategy for refocusing attention during painful procedures or long treatments such as hemodialysis, and a source of emotional support. Music is clinically recognized to influence biological responses such as heart rate, blood pressure, respiration rate, cardiac output, muscle tone, pupillary responses, skin responses, the immune system, and endorphin production. Music can entrain the body to calm or to accelerate depending on what type of music is used. Sedative music can lower anxiety, pain, tension and stress levels resulting in less use of anesthetics and pain medication, a shorter recovery period, higher patient compliance and higher patient and family satisfaction. Stimulative music can be a source of motivation both physically and psychologically and becomes a positive reinforcement during physical therapy and rehabilitation. In summary, Music therapy can contribute significantly to medical care providing psychological and physical comfort to patients with various needs.