Music therapy

Given the deep connection that most of us have with music, it should come as no surprise that researchers around the world continue to investigate music's therapeutic benefits. Research studies have provided encouraging evidence to support the integration of music therapy alongside traditional health care. Music therapy is a safe, non-invasive and inexpensive treatment component for many health challenges. For example, compared with usual care, music therapy has been shown to reduce anxiety, pain, depression and fatigue in people with cancer. Listening to music also offers similar benefits to patients in hospital, making their stay more bearable. Moreover, music has been shown to soothe agitation and other challenging behaviours in people with dementia. Evidence also shows that music interventions aid in rehabilitation for adults with acquired brain injury. So press play, it's good for your health! Read more in our resources below.

 

Featured Resources

  1. Blog Post: Music can help ease your hospital stay
  2. Blog Post: 5 alternative options for pain relief
  3. Blog Post: 3 simple ways to manage challenging behaviours associated with dementia
  4. Evidence Summary: Music interventions for acquired brain injury
  5. Evidence Summary: Playing music in nursing homes may reduce resistance to care among older adults with dementia
  6. Evidence Summary: In people with cancer, music therapy reduces anxiety, depression, pain, and fatigue

 


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DISCLAIMER: These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).

Many of our Blog Posts were written before the COVID-19 pandemic and thus do not necessarily reflect the latest public health recommendations. While the content of new and old blogs identify activities that support optimal aging, it is important to defer to the most current public health recommendations. Some of the activities suggested within these blogs may need to be modified or avoided altogether to comply with changing public health recommendations. To view the latest updates from the Public Health Agency of Canada, please visit their website.