Although there have been many scientific studies of music as therapy, there is still no clear understanding of how or why it works as a healing force. It is another of the many mind-body questions in medicine that deserve further research. Music therapy's unique ability to enhance quality of life and assist emotional and physical healing deserve better understanding. One theory suggests that music therapy's benefits occur through a process called entrainment . This is the automatic learning of muscles to synchronize with music that has a clear and pronounced beat.
Music therapy has beneficial effects with virtually all patient groups.
It can reduce pain and diminish the psychological discomforts that are a part of many medical problems. Music therapy is used with mentally retarded patients, for people with physical disabilities, Alzheimer's patients, and children with developmental problems. It is used in many delivery rooms to help mothers in labor. It seems to reduce the need for medications during childbirth. Music therapy helps patients with neurologic or developmental disorders by improving mental and physical functioning.