Burn Pain and Anxiety: The Use of Music Relaxation During Rehabilitation

Pain and anxiety are well-documented problems during the rehabilitation of patients with burns. This study examined the effect of music on anxiety and pain during range of motion. Eleven subjects with partial-thickness or deeper burns were randomly assigned to a control group (without music intervention) or experimental group (with music intervention). Vital signs, pain, and anxiety were recorded before and after treatments. There was no difference in pretest and posttest anxiety across the groups; however, there was a difference in anxiety between the groups. Conversely, there was a difference in pretest and posttest pain across the groups but no difference in pain between the groups. Results showed no significant re-duction in anxiety and pain during therapy with music relaxation. Limitations included nonhomogenous groups, small sample size, potentially unrepresentative sample, variation in exercise protocol, and small musical selection. Further research is recommended. (J Burn Care Rehabil 2004;25:8–14) Burn injuries are a major medical condition, often resulting in hospital admissions, surgeries, and exten-sive therapies. Patients with burns as their primar