Music Therapy in Cardiac Health Care

Abstract

Music therapy is a service that has become more prevalent as an adjunct to medical practice-as its evidence base expands and music therapists begin to join the cardiology team in every phase of care, from the most serious cases to those maintaining good heart health. Although applications of music medicine, primarily listening to short segments of music, are capable of stabilizing vital signs and managing symptoms in the short-term, music therapy interventions by a qualified practitioner are showing promise in establishing deeper and more lasting impact. On the basis of mind-body approaches, stress/coping models, the neuromatrix theory of pain, and entrainment, music therapy capitalizes on the ability of music to affect the autonomic nervous system. Although only a limited number of randomized controlled trials pinpoint the efficacy of specific music therapy interventions, qualitative research reveals some profound outcomes in certain individuals. A depth of understanding related to the experience of living with a cardiovascular disease can be gained through music therapy approaches such as nonverbal music psychotherapy and guided imagery and music. The multifaceted nature of musical responsiveness contributes to strong individual variability and must be taken into account in the development of research protocols for future music therapy and music medicine interventions. The extant research provides a foundation for exploring the many potential psychosocial, physiological, and spiritual outcomes of a music therapy service for cardiology patients.

Music decreases aortic stiffness and wave reflections

“…Our study may have important clinical implications supporting the preventive and therapeutic role of music. Indeed, a growing body of evidence focuses on the favorable effect of music in patients with acute coronary syndrome who underwent revascularization [29,30] and on the potential to decrease risk of future events, including reinfarction and death [31]. The findings of this study provide an explanation according to which music stimulus may exert a protective effect on the cardiovascular system.…”

“…Listening to favorite music alone and in addition to regular exercise training improves vascular function and has been used as an adjunct method in the rehabilitation of patients with coronary artery disease [31]. Our study may have important clinical implications supporting the preventive and therapeutic role of music.…”

Johann Sebastian Bach: Leben, Werke und seine Bedeutung für die Kardiologie

“…Ob eine arterielle [21,22]. Die Wirkung unterschiedlicher Komponisten und verschiedener Kompositionsformen ist offensichtlich mit Effekten auf das Herz-Kreislauf-System verbunden, wobei in früheren Studien eine Reihe unterschiedlichster Parameter untersucht wurde [9,15,29]. Die Mechanismen der Wirkung von Musik auf den Menschen und die Beeinflussung des autonomen Nervensystems sind in manchen Punkten geklärt, in vielen Bereichen aber weiterhin unklar [2,30,41].…”

Music therapy in stress: proposal of extension to Assisted Reproduction

“…Its application in health ambit has shown positive results for people with neurological problems (Schlesinger et al, 2009;Correia, 2010); cardiac patients (Hanser & Mandel, 2005;Zanini, 2009;Hanser, 2014), and cancer patients (Li et al, 2011;Lin et al, 2011;Alcântara-Silva, 2012). In investigations about music therapy during endoscopic procedures, the results show that music therapy intervention leaded to smaller use of anxilolytics (Lee et al, 2002;Andrada et al, 2004).…”