Music Therapy Resources
Explore free and open-access music therapy research, article summaries, and educational resources curated by Revival Jam. Search the library below for topics spanning autism, depression, anxiety, quality of life, dementia, and more.
Music Therapy for Surgery Recovery: Pain Relief, Anxiety Support, and Recovery
A 2025 randomized controlled trial found that live and therapist-designed recorded music therapy both helped reduce pain and anxiety in adults undergoing shoulder replacement surgery. The study highlights music therapy as a practical, evidence-based support in perioperative care.
Article Overview
This 2025 randomized controlled trial examined whether music therapy could help reduce pain and anxiety in adults undergoing total shoulder arthroplasty, also known as shoulder replacement surgery. Patients were assigned to live music therapy, therapist-designed recorded music therapy, or standard care without music therapy. The study defined music therapy as music-based interventions provided by a board-certified music therapist.
Researchers found that both live and recorded music therapy were associated with significantly greater reductions in pain and anxiety than standard care alone. There were no significant differences between the live and recorded music therapy groups overall, suggesting that therapist-designed recorded interventions may also be a practical option in medical settings. The study did not find significant differences in opioid use across groups.
Why This Matters
This article is a strong fit for a public-facing music therapy library because it shows music therapy being used in a real medical setting for concrete clinical goals: reducing perioperative pain and anxiety. It also helps clarify that music therapy is not simply background music, but a structured, evidence-based intervention designed by trained music therapists.
It is also useful because the findings are practical and credible. If therapist-designed recorded music therapy can support outcomes similarly to live delivery in this context, hospitals and surgical teams may have more flexible ways to integrate music therapy into patient care. At the same time, the study stays appropriately cautious by noting limits such as its nonblinded design and single-site sample.
Armstrong, A. D., Starr, D. J., Sweet, M. D., Barillas, B., Chamberlin, A., Fioravanti, T., Napoli, C., Pahomov, E., George, S. Z., Schwab, S. M., & Weed, J. T. (2026). Live versus recorded music therapy intervention in shoulder arthroplasty. JSES International, 10, 101438. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jseint.2025.101438
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A Bouquet of Flowers, Clara Peeters, ca. 1612