Published in:
01-03-2020 | Osteoarthrosis | Scientific Article
The effect of music on pain and subjective experience in image-guided musculoskeletal corticosteroid injections: a randomized controlled trial
Published in: Skeletal Radiology | Issue 3/2020
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Purpose
To investigate the role of music on subjects undergoing routine image-guided musculoskeletal corticosteroid injections and its effect on post-procedure pain and subjective overall experience.
Materials and methods
This prospective study was IRB-approved and HIPAA-compliant. A total of 126 subjects referred for outpatient image-guided musculoskeletal corticosteroid injections were enrolled in the study and randomized into a music offered group ((+)MO) and a no music offered group ((−)MO). (+)MO subjects were given the opportunity to listen to music during their corticosteroid injection. All subjects were then given an anonymous survey on which they recorded their pre-procedural and post-procedural pain on a scale from 0 to 9 and rated their overall experience and how likely they were to recommend our department for musculoskeletal procedures on scales from 1 to 5.
Results
(+)MO subjects had significantly lower post-procedural pain (p = 0.013) and significantly greater decrease in pain (p = 0.031) compared to (−)MO subjects. Among the (+)MO subjects, there was no statistically significant difference in post-procedure pain (p = 0.34) or change in pain (p = 0.62) if music was accepted or declined. However, subjects who listened to music did have lower post-procedural pain compared to those who did not listen to music (p = 0.012), although the differences in the decrease of pain between the two groups did not quite reach statistical significance (p = 0.062).
Conclusions
Playing music during image-guided musculoskeletal corticosteroid injections may reduce patients’ post-procedure pain. Offering patients some measure of control over their procedure may be a factor that contributes to decreased post-procedure pain as well.