Music has a profound effect on people. It can remind us of a special time in our lives, a distant memory, or create new ones. It turns out that science has been looking closely as to the effects of music on the human condition. A father and daughter team researched the positive effects music can have on children with pain.

It was a small study, involving 60 patients between 9 and 14 years old. All the patients were undergoing big operations that required them to stay in the hospital for at least a couple of days, things like orthopedic, urologic or neurological surgery. Right after surgery, patients received narcotics to control pain. The next day they were divided into three groups. One group heard 30 minutes of music of their choice, one heard 30 minutes of stories of their choice and one listened to 30 minutes of silence via noise canceling headphones

When it comes to distracting people from pain, music has special qualities, says Dr. Lynn Webster, a pain specialist and past president of the American Academy of Pain Medicine. “It can generate not only a focus and reduction in anxiety, but it can induce a feeling of euphoria,” he says. That can help drown out the pain.

Its no secret that music can make you feel good but according to this study, it will also make you feel better. Our appreciation goes out to  Santhanam Suresh and his daughter Sunitha Suresh for conducting this study.