Music and relaxation reduced pain during early recovery from lumbar surgery
A randomized trial found greater early pain reductions with either approach added to standard care, but did not report absolute score differences.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
Adding music therapy or Benson relaxation to standard care improved pain scores during early recovery from lumbar disc surgery. Fear-of-movement scores also changed differently across groups over time. Without absolute score differences, the practical size of these effects remains unclear. The abstract does not establish lasting improvements in pain, mobility or recovery.
The abstract reports outcomes only through postoperative day 3. It gives no absolute score differences or confidence intervals, limiting assessment of how noticeable or lasting the reported improvements might be.
What researchers found
Pain intensity on the Visual Analogue Scale
Both approaches added to standard care versus standard care alone, on the second and third postoperative days. Differences were statistically significant; absolute score differences were not reported.
How outcomes were measured
The researchers measured pain using a visual analogue scale and fear of movement using the Tampa Scale. Baseline and successive postoperative assessments tracked changes across the treatment groups.
Different reported timing
The authors describe faster pain relief with music and an earlier reduction in fear of movement with relaxation. The abstract offers limited detail for judging these timing differences or their practical importance.
The original publication
Music therapy and Benson relaxation in postoperative care: A randomized controlled trial on pain and kinesiophobia after lumbar discectomy.
Bagheri M, Abbasi A, Kurdi S et al.
Explore (NY) · 2026
- PubMed ID
- 41483731
- Record checked
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