The effect of preferred music on anxiety and pain in electrodiagnostic studies: A prospective, randomized-controlled study
Steven Macaluso1,2, Ricardo Viana1,2, Swati Mehta1,2,3, Jad Serhan1, Michelle Chow4, Batool Rahal4, Niduka Widyaratne1
1Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
2Lawson Research Institute, Parkwood Institute, London, Ontario Canada
3Department of Human Kinetics, University of Windsor, Windsor, Ontario, Canada
4Department of Neuroscience, Western University, London, Ontario, Canada
Keywords: Anxiety, electrodiagnostic, electromyography, music, nerve conduction studies, pain, studies.
Abstract
Objectives: This study aims to investigate whether listening to preferred music via headphones during electrodiagnostic (EDX) studies, including electromyography (EMG) and nerve conduction studies (NCS), can reduce test-related anxiety and test-related pain.
Patients and methods: A total of 31 patients who were referred for EMG and NCS were included in this prospective, randomized controlled study between September 2018 to April 2021. The patients were randomized into the Music or No Music group. Patients were provided over ear headphones, a tablet with music app, and a microphone interface to allow physicians and patients to communicate. Self-report measures of pain and anxiety were administered immediately before and after each diagnostic procedure. Patient satisfaction was measured using the Patient Satisfaction Questionnaire (PSQ).
Results: A total of 22 participants were included in the final analysis. Of them, 7 were male and 15 were female with a mean age of 44.73 ± 14.35 (range, 20 to 78) years. The pain and anxiety measures were completed at baseline by 27 participants, 24 after the NCS/before the EMG, and 24 after the EMG testing. We found non-statistically significant differences between groups for pain scores; however, music showed a trend toward improving anxiety, and respondents to the PSQ reported high satisfaction with the use of music and a preference for its use in the future.
Conclusion: Listening to music during EDX testing to reduce pain and anxiety is an overall positive experience for most patients with a possible benefit to test anxiety despite a lack of statistically significant differences between Music and No Music groups.
Citation: Macaluso S, Viana R, Mehta S, Serhan J, Chow M, Rahal B, et al. The effect of preferred music on anxiety and pain in electrodiagnostic studies: A prospective, randomizedcontrolled study. Arch ISPRM 2026;1(x):i-ix. https://doi.org/10.5606/archisprm.2026.24.