* Text Courtesy IANS

*Images courtesy Reuters pictures

(IANS) Music therapy helps soothe patients before, during and after surgery, besides reducing pain and speeding up recovery time, says a study.

A review by the University of Kentucky examined the use of music in the pre-operative, operative and post-operative stages of surgery, and music was shown to have positive results in all three stages.

Calm, slow, gentle music was shown to produce the most positive results and facilitate relaxation and pain reduction in patients. 

Data proposes that music could be beneficial in reducing cost and length of stay in intensive care units, the Southern Medical Journal reported.

Patients were less anxious before the procedure and recovered more quickly and satisfactorily after being exposed to music during surgery and post-operation phase. They also required less sedation and reported better satisfaction with their medical experience, according to a Kentucky statement.

"Here at UK (University of Kentucky), our music therapists regularly use music-based interventions to help patients manage both pain and anxiety," said Lori Gooding, Kentucky director of music therapy, who led the review.

Music that is selected by trained personnel is preferred because specific guidelines for music selection should be followed in order to maximize its positive effect on patients, though the patient's musical tastes should still be considered.

Characteristics of the music are also important in effective music therapy. Among other features, the tempo, rhythm and volume of the music can be carefully controlled in order to maximize the positive effect that music can have.

Gooding and colleague Olivia Yinger will be presenting these findings in Sweden in 2013.