e23 Musical therapy as a new strategy for pain in fibromyalgia

Abstract

Background: Fibromyalgia is a chronic pain syndrome that can be accompanied by fatigue, headache, sleep disturbances, and depression. Because the cause of fibromyalgia remains unknown, definitive treatments are lacking. The aim of managements of fibromyalgia patients is removing pain. Most pain medications have limited application; usually patients tend to develop a resistance to them. Music therapy is an established form of treatment that can be a valuable in restoring quality of life for fibromyalgia patients. Many studies show that music therapy alleviates pain, promotes physical rehabilitation, can create a feeling of wellbeing, and aids in managing stress. Music therapy is not a new treatment; it was found in the works of Aristotle and Plato and after WW1 patients seemed improved in physical and emotional injury with help of music. It can cause physiological changes within the brain in the regions associated with language, memory, and attention. These changes also affect the way the brain processes pain, which can lead to an overall change in the way a patient experiences pain. The aim of this study was to determine the effects of six weeks of musical therapy on pain in fibromyalgia patients. Methods: Forty nine female fibromyalgia patients with mean age 42.11 years≤7.20 as patients group and twenty five as control group. Music with beat wave 50-60 was given to patients to listen at home, questionnaires for quality of life, visual analogue scale (VAS), and pain evaluation were studied .The disease duration was ranged from two to four years, The mean pain intensity was 7.11≤1.64 . All patients were evaluated at base-time, two, four and six weeks. Results: There was significant improvement of pain after musical therapy, the mean VAS at base time was (6.15≤2.73), two weeks (4.84≤2.15), four weeks (4.11≤2.17) and (3.64≤2.19) at six weeks. The P value of pain was (p=0.022) in the musical group which indicated significance improvement in pain .The effect of music has been found to decrease pain in fibromyalgia patients. Conclusion: Musical therapy should be considered as an important line of pain management in fibromyalgia patients.