A little classical music here and there may provide pain-relieving benefits for arthritis.

We can all attest that putting on our favorite record or hearing a new hit single can provide some much-needed distraction from the tribulations of life. But while bobbing your head along to a classic album may feel therapeutic to your mind, can music actually provide pain-relieving benefits for your body? Several studies have looked into the potential treatment values that listening to music or even singing songs can offer your symptoms of arthritis.

Music as relief

Researchers from the Cleveland Clinic Foundation explored the therapeutic benefits of music for those living with arthritis by asking participants to listen to tunes for one hour a day every week. The style of music didn't matter as long as it was something they enjoyed. By the end of the examination, those partaking in the music therapy study not only reported feeling more empowered, but also noted less pain, depression and disability than those in the control group who did not listen to music. Pain ratings provided by the subjects were reduced by 20 percent compared to non-music listeners, who actually reported an increase in overall pain.

Dr. Sandra L Siedlecki, a researcher at the Cleveland Clinic Foundation and lead contributor to the study, was adamant that the results of the study indicated how those living with arthritis can experience reduction in pain, and any type of relief experienced should be recommended as a potential source of therapy.

"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," Siedlecki said in a statement. "Non-malignant pain remains a major health problem and sufferers continue to report high levels of unrelieved pain despite using medication. So anything that can provide relief is to be welcomed."

Additional research

Other studies have also tested the potential of music as a pain reliever for symptoms of arthritis. In one study published in the The Journal of Advanced Nursing, elderly participants who listened to classical music such as Mozart or Beethoven for 20 minutes each morning for two weeks also reported decreased levels of pain. While it's officially undetermined how music can possess such healing qualities, many researchers say that listening to relaxing melodies may reduce the perception of pain primarily because the music is able to positively impact an individual's mood and help eliminate anxiety. Engaging in other creative activities has also proven to provide similar pain-healing effects with arthritis patients. Examples include guided imagery, drawing and participating in group sessions that allow subjects to share their creations with one another.

Stimulate your mind

One of the most common reported symptoms of arthritis is fatigue, and whenever someone with inflamed joints begins to feel tired, experiences of pain can seem worse. This leads us to another reason why listening to music may soothe arthritis pain: listening to a song can stimulate the brain, which in turn rids the body and mind of fatigue. So for those living with arthritis, perhaps singing in the shower or hearing a little Mozart before bed is just what the doctor ordered.

To learn more about arthritis treatments:

Alternative Treatments: Massage Therapy for Arthritis Pain
How a Touch of Turmeric Can Tame Arthritis Pain
Brew Away Pain