In a recent study published in Frontiers in Pain Research, Swiss scientists demonstrated that playing a patient’s preferred music can significantly reduce pain during a routine medical procedure. The research focused on the brief but uncomfortable insertion of a cannula—a thin tube used to deliver contrast agents—before magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans.
How the study was conducted
The investigators recruited 204 adult patients scheduled for non‑emergency brain, spine, or head‑and‑neck MRIs at University Hospital Zurich. Participants were divided into four groups. One quarter received no music at all, serving as a control. The remaining three groups listened to either the patient’s self‑selected favorite music, a specially composed relaxation track, or Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart’s Sonata KV 448, a piece previously linked to therapeutic effects.
Before the procedure, each patient in the “favorite music” group named an artist or song they wanted to hear. All participants were shown a visual pain scale ranging from 1 (no pain) to 10 (worst pain imaginable) and asked to rate their discomfort before the cannula insertion, during the insertion, and at two follow‑up points: 30 seconds and two minutes after the needle was placed.
Results show clear benefit for personal music choices
Patients who listened to their own favorite tunes reported lower pain scores both 30 seconds and two minutes after the cannula was inserted compared with the control group. In a subgroup analysis of patients who entered the study already experiencing pain, favorite music continued to provide a measurable reduction at the moment of needle insertion, while Mozart only showed a benefit two minutes later.
By contrast, participants who heard the relaxation track or no music at all did not experience any statistically significant change in pain levels. The researchers noted that the initial discomfort of the needle may have drawn attention away from the music, suggesting that the analgesic effect of music may require a brief adjustment period.
Expert commentary
Lead author Dr. Andrei‑Cristinel Dragnea emphasized the practical implications: “Although a needle puncture is a minor procedure, the level of pain can vary significantly from person to person. In modern medicine, the goal of treating physicians is not only to provide a successful diagnosis and therapy, but also to ensure that the procedure causes as little discomfort as possible.”
Senior author Dr. Meritxell Garcia Alzamora added, “From the four conditions we examined, only favorite music and Mozart showed a positive effect. Favorite music manifested a significant pain reduction effect both in patients with and without baseline pain.” She recommended that hospitals consider offering patients the option to listen to their own music, especially those who are anxious or claustrophobic during imaging procedures.
What this means for patients and providers
The study suggests a low‑cost, non‑pharmacologic strategy that can improve patient comfort during routine radiology work. By allowing patients to select music that is meaningful to them, clinics may enhance the overall experience without additional equipment or medication.
Future research could explore whether similar benefits extend to longer or more invasive procedures, such as surgeries or chemotherapy infusions. For now, the evidence supports a simple recommendation: ask patients what they would like to hear and let the music play.
Original reporting: KTBS 3 (Shreveport) — read the source article.
