The effect of choral music on emotions, immune parameters and lung function during physiotherapy treatment of pneumonia and bronchitis

Abstract

Introduction: Music, processed by the brain, has a strong impact on the emotions and health. The Magnificat in D major of JS Bach communicates not only a positive emotion of happiness but also motivational behaviour. Infectious lung conditions are often associated with negative emotions which develop due to physiological changes. The hormonal action of the hypothalamuspituitary-adrenal axes (HPA) could be negatively affected by emotions of anger and depression. This will result in a disturbance of the mind-body inter- action. Music therefore can exert a powerful influence on therapeutic benefits by changing the psychological status and the immune endocrine functions. The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of music, during respiratory physiotherapy treatment on a) the emotional status, b) neuroendocrine responses, c) immune functions and d) lung functions of subjects with infected lung conditions. Method and Materials: Forty subjects attending physiotherapy treatment was selected according to set criteria and randomly assigned to an experimental and control group. The parameters (Profile Of Mood State [POMS]; CD4: CD8 cell ratios; Cortisol; the Cortisol: DHEA ratio; PF; FEV1; FVC and FEV1/FVC %) were measured on day 1 before the treatment and on day 3 after the treatment. Data were analysed with Statistica (Statsoft) using the Repeated ANOVA tests. Results: Results indicated that the intervention of music had a positive effect on the immunological parameter (CD4+:CD8+ cell ratios) and on the cortisol and cortisol:DHEA ratio levels. At the same time the psychological status as measured by Profile of Mood States (POMS scale) improved with a significant improvement in the lung functions. Conclusion: The research provided sufficient scientific evidence that music affects both the biomedical and psycho- somatic aspects of infectious lung conditions.