When thinking of music reminiscence therapy, our mind usually goes to the benefits to our mental health and wellbeing. However, this style of therapy can also positively benefit a number of physical areas of our lives as well. Music therapy has been linked to assisting with pain management, mobility struggles, and dietary issues. While these are a part of life that anybody could be struggling with, these become particularly prominent in aged care. This makes music reminiscence therapy an important part of healing that should be included in any aged care routine.

Pain Management

Generally, the need for some form of pain management is quite common in aged care. This is very unfortunate and finding treatments to this is important to improving quality of life. There are countless studies that draw connections between music therapy and pain management. The most common conclusion is that auditory stimulation has been found to reduce and suppress pain. This works by providing a distraction and a sense of control in their healing to the person engaging in the therapy. By refocusing attention on something positive such as creating or listening to music, the amount of pain that is perceived is reduced. Music is also known to enhance the release of emotional and physical tension, which can result in reduction of pain which is exacerbated by tension. By promoting relaxing breathing, rest, and sleep, music therapy can directly reduce pain in some cases through sensory stimulation.

Mobility

Unfortunately, as we age, our mobility can decline, and our bodies just don’t respond like they used to. However, music reminiscence therapy has proven itself as a key player in promoting muscle response and improving mobility in those living in aged care. By providing sensory stimulation through music, our muscles and neurological responses are more likely to respond and react. Not only does music simply inspire us to get up and move, but there have been some direct correlations with patients struggling with low mobility due to diseases such as Parkinson’s. Music, and music reminiscence therapy, stimulates the production of dopamine and serotonin in our brain. These two neurotransmitters are what are typically damaged when suffering through Parkinson’s disease. Through this boosted production, patients found improved rhythm and stability. While these studies are extremely exciting for the future of music therapy, anybody with low mobility can benefit from the therapy. Mobility can be improved by regularly moving and keeping fit, so using music to prompt movement and dance is extremely beneficial to any aged care mobility rehabilitation.

Diet

Poor digestion and appetite are often common struggles as we age. Our bodies are changing, so it’s only natural that our lower metabolic rate and levels of activity start to reflect in our diet. Similarly to pain management, music therapy can provide sensory stimulation and distraction which can assist with providing support while eating. When struggling with physical stresses such as reduced ability to eat, we can easily get ourselves in a routine of stress. The struggles associated with eating start to promote feelings of stress and anxiety around the issue, which only encourages the problem. By promoting positive feelings and providing a distraction through music therapy, this cycle can be broken.

While there are many different aspects of life that music therapy can be beneficial to, there is no denying the benefits for physical ailments in aged care. Including some form of music reminiscence therapy in your routine can largely benefit many areas if your life. This therapy could be listening to music, creating music, playing instruments, singing, dancing, or engaging in a nostalgic music therapy service such as Silver Memories. To learn more about music therapy and how it could directly benefit you, contact the friendly team at Silver Memories today.