US researchers tested the effect of music on 60 patients who had endured years of chronic pain.

• Those who listened to music reported a cut in pain levels of up to 21%, and in associated depression of up to 25%, compared to those who did not listen.
• The Journal of Advanced Nursing study also found music helped people feel less disabled by their condition.

"Anything that can provide relief is to be welcomed" Dr Sandra Siedlecki

Consistent improvements

• Researcher Dr Sandra Siedlecki, of the Cleveland Clinic Foundation, said: "Our results show that listening to music had a statistically significant effect on the two experimental groups, reducing pain, depression and disability and increasing feelings of power.
  
  "There were some small differences between the two music groups, but they both showed consistent improvements in each category when compared to the control group.
  
  "Non-malignant pain remains a major health problem and sufferers continue to report high levels of unrelieved pain despite using medication.
  
• Previous research published in the same journal found listening to 45 minutes of soft music before going to bed can improve sleep by more than a third.

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