Uses

Music therapy is the clinical and evidence-based use of music interventions to accomplish individualized goals within a therapeutic relationship by a credentialed professional who has completed an approved music therapy program.

Music therapy comes in many different forms and varies based on the patients condition and preference. Some variables include live versus recorded music, choice of instruments, genre of music, timing of the therapy, therapist selection, and volume. Music therapy can range from a patient listening to music throughout surgery to a music therapist working with a specific patient population on a regular basis. Music therapy can be passive or active. Some patients may be comatose and unable to participate in the therapy, whereas others may take part in the music by playing an instrument, or even participating in composing the music. Music therapy can be used alone or in conjunction with other techniques, such as guided imagery.

A music therapist will typically incorporate music therapy techniques with other clinical practices such as history, assessment, psychotherapy, rehabilitation and other modalities depending on the population and resources. Music therapy has been identified as a reimbursable service since 1994 under benefits for Partial Hospitalization Programs. The interventions cannot be purely recreational or diversionary in nature and are considered active treatment if meeting the following criteria:

1. Be Prescribed by a physician

2. Be reasonable and necessary for the treatment of the individual's illness or injury

3. Be goal directed and based on a documented treatment plan

4. The goal of treatment cannot be merely maintain current level of functioning; the individual must exhibit some level of improvement.

For pain and anxiety control:

Music can be used as a distraction, or a competing stimuli. Music has also been seen to stimulate brain stem centers directly (auditory pathway) or indirectly (psychologically – cognitively), leading to the activation of descending inhibitory pathways. (Watkins 1997). Music can help to release endorphins, therefore relieving pain. Affecting the Reticular Activating System, music can affects the emotions, autonomic function, and body musculature. Music can also cause relaxing affect by stimulating alpha waves producing a state of relaxed wakefulness. And don' for get the placebo affect that music has on people.

For hypertension, coronary heart disease, cerebral vascular accidents:

Music has been shown to decreases the level of catecholamine release (Henry 1995).

A Cochrane review of 23 clinical trials showed that music therapy may reduce heart rate, respiratory rate, and blood pressure and levels of anxiety in patients with coronary artery disease, though studies including two or more music sessions led to a small and consistent pain-reducing effect (Bradt 2009).

For nausea:

The way that music can cause a distraction leads to a decrease in the emotional effect on gastric acid secretion (Ezzone 1998). This is useful as an adjunct therapy in patients taking chemotherapy.

For birthing:

For birthing therapy, music is used with the intention of assisting the mother's breathing.

For Stage I Labor, the type of breathing is slow chest breathing, and slow 4/4 tempo with a distinctive drum beat is theorized to assist in the breathing.

For Stage II Labor, the type of breathing is shallow chest breathing, and as the rate of the breathing increases, the music should also, as well as volume, if desired.

During expulsion, to encourage pushing, a driving melody, with strong rhythm, percussions, and increased volume is used. (Durham 1986)

Music is theorized to build and strengthen connections between nerve cells in the cerebral cortex and has helped in improving mobility in stroke and Parkinson's patients. A certain study done at Colorado State University showed and increase in stride length and an increase in gait velocity by almost 25% in those who used music therapy. It was thought that the music had effects on both the neurological rehabilitation and on the patient's motor systems.

Music has been shown to improve memory, decrease agitation, improve mood, and increase orientation in Alzheimer’s patients.

Music therapy has been shown to decreasing hospitalization in low birth-weight neonates in the neonatal intensive care unit (Standley 1995). It has also been shown to increase oxygen saturation in premature neonates in the NICU, and promote faster weight gain in premature babies. Music therapy has been used in autistic children and shown to help improve their sociability.

In Chiropractic:

The vibrations from the sound of music have been shown to activate and resonate the calcium apatite in the spine (Miller 1999).

Music therapy has been used in schools to assist special learners, to maintain function in the elderly in nursing homes, and with abused children and adolescents.