Mind-Body and Music-Based Interventions for Pediatric Pain
We recently joined forces with another healing arts-based non-profit organization, Creative Healing for Youth in Pain (CHYP). Founded by renowned pediatrician and researcher, Dr. Lonnie Zeltzer, this organization provides resources to children, families, and caregivers as they navigate their pain journeys. Given our shared experiences in the transformative power of the healing arts, our two organizations are collaborating on hosting a virtual summer camp this July.
This virtual camp is for children 13 to 18 years of age who are suffering from pain, of any duration or root cause. Participants will have the opportunity to engage in accessible healing arts workshops from the comfort of their home, clinic, or hospital bed.
As part of the workshop lineup:
July 14th - Our long-standing partners, Tidewater Music Therapy (TMT), will be facilitating a music-based session
July 15th - BGF’s medical advisor, Dr. Sheetal Ajmani, will be facilitating a healing arts and mindfulness session
In preparation for this event, we explored scientific research on mind-body and music-based interventions for pediatric pain management.
Here’s what we found:
Mind-Body Medicine
A review article published in Children (2017) described four approaches of mind-body medicine - mindfulness, hypnosis, yoga, and acupuncture - in the primary or adjunctive treatment of pediatric pain. While research studies of these modalities in the pediatric population are limited, the following benefits of mind-body practices have been seen in adults:
Minimal to no side effects
Low cost
Accessibility
Given these benefits in the adult population, along with limited evidence within pediatric subsets, this review suggests that these mind-body practices may offer effective and low-risk potential in the management of pediatric pain.
Another study published in the International Journal of Yoga (2019) examined the impact of group yoga sessions on participants 8-20 years old with chronic pain of any etiology. Patients were enrolled in an intensive 3-4 week pediatric pain rehabilitative program, during which they received weekly 60-minute yoga sessions. Sessions included the following components: education, warm-up, diaphragmatic breathing, yoga poses, and guided relaxation.
Results were as follows:
Benefits of yoga sessions
General relaxation reported by 40% of participants
Decreased muscle tension reported by 22% of participants
Calming effect reported by 14% of participants
Confidence in continuing yoga practice at home
Close to half of participants who had prior exposure to yoga reported feeling confident performing yoga at home or in a community setting
About a third of participants with no prior yoga exposure reported feeling like they would be able to perform yoga at home or in a community setting
It is worth noting that about 25% of participants did feel that their pain was a distraction to fully engaging in the yoga sessions. This is helpful to note when curating yoga programs, being mindful to offer adaptations, breaks, and other resources throughout.
Overall, these results suggest benefits of guided therapeutic yoga practice, with a proportion of patients reporting confidence in being able to continue these practices at home upon completion of their structured rehabilitation program.
Music-Based Interventions
A study on music interventions to address pediatric pain was published in the Journal of Clinical Medicine (2022). This systematic meta-analysis uncovered 38 randomized controlled trials that met inclusion criteria, totaling over 5000 participants. Statistical analysis of these studies suggest that in newborns, infants and children <8 years old, music interventions resulted in reduced pain as well as physiological improvements of lower heart and respiratory rates.
Pain situations where music-based interventions were most effective
Pinpricks
Chronic pain
Procedure-related pain
Postoperative pain
Most effective modes of music delivery
Headphones
Speakers
Most effective types of music
Classical
Pop
Kids music
Limited effects were observed with other genres, such as world music, specially composed pieces, or mixed-genre combinations.
Overall, this review suggests benefits of music-based interventions on pain reduction in pediatric age groups.
In conclusion, while studies within the pediatric population are limited, early evidence suggests benefits of mind-body and music-based interventions on pain reduction, with minimal to no adverse events reported. Given the cost-effectiveness and accessibility of these interventions relative to conventional pain management protocols, mind-body and music-based interventions hold potential in adjunctive and/or primary management of pediatric pain.
Seeking minimally invasive protocols is particularly important in the current healthcare landscape where concerns regarding opioid misuse, overuse, and adverse events are at the forefront. Given that 40% of children report pain at least once a week, and that a significant proportion of children with chronic pain go on to experience pain into adulthood, it is vital to empower children with accessible and sustainable tools for pain management.
Join Us In July
We’re honored to bring mindfulness and music to CHYP’s virtual summer camp this July. If you know a young person who could benefit, registration is open here: https://mychyp.org/chyp-summer-camp/
For more on Arts in Pediatric Pain Management, check out our April 2025 Know the Facts article, Art Therapy For Pediatric Pain and Palliative Care.
Your support can make an impact! Help us continue our work in integrating the healing arts into healthcare—consider making a donation today.
Resources
Brown ML, Rojas E, Gouda S. A Mind-Body Approach to Pediatric Pain Management. Children (Basel). 2017 Jun 20;4(6):50. doi: 10.3390/children4060050. PMID: 28632194; PMCID: PMC5483625.
Kempert H. The Use of Yoga as a Group Intervention for Pediatric Chronic Pain Rehabilitation: Exploring Qualitative and Quantitative Outcomes. Int J Yoga. 2020 Jan-Apr;13(1):55-61. doi: 10.4103/ijoy.IJOY_13_19. PMID: 32030022; PMCID: PMC6937875.
Ting B, Tsai CL, Hsu WT, Shen ML, Tseng PT, Chen DT, Su KP, Jingling L. Music Intervention for Pain Control in the Pediatric Population: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. J Clin Med. 2022 Feb 14;11(4):991. doi: 10.3390/jcm11040991. PMID: 35207263; PMCID: PMC8877634.