Research Spotlight · Calm
Music and feeling calm
Slow, unhurried music for the moments you want to settle. Put it on, let the room go quiet.
What the studies found
Some- A Cochrane review of 26 trials (2,051 adults waiting for surgery) found those who listened to music felt less worried than with usual care, with a small drop in heart rate.[1]
- A Lancet review of 73 randomized trials found people who heard music around surgery felt more comfortable and less worried afterwards, and were more satisfied with their care.[2]
Who took part
Adults in hospital around surgery, listening to recorded music, usually through headphones.
References
- Bradt J, Dileo C, Shim M. Music interventions for preoperative anxiety. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2013;(6):CD006908. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23740695/ · 26 trials, 2,051 adults.
- Hole J, Hirsch M, Ball E, Meads C. Music as an aid for postoperative recovery in adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Lancet. 2015;386(10004):1659-71. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26277246/ · 73 randomized trials.
Research summaries are for interest only. ARK Sounds is music for enjoyment, not a treatment. These studies are about kinds of sound in general; none of them tested ARK tracks.