Functionally oriented music therapy (FMT) in the treatment of long-term musculoskeletal pain. A qualitative observational study.

Purpose: The aim was to interpret and describe functionally oriented music therapy (FMT) as a method in the treatment of long-term musculoskeletal pain in a region in the middle of Sweden. A first step of a larger project aiming to study the method's effectiveness on participants pain and daily life qualitatively and quantitively.

Methods: The study was a qualitative observational study. Video observations were supplemented with semi-structured interviews with FMT therapists (n = 3) and participants with long-term musculoskeletal pain (n = 19). Collected data was analysed using thematic analysis.

Results: Five main themes were identified in connection with the main core theme of "Person centred tailored treatment". The video observations have shown no negative impacts during the sessions. Positive body language was observed (i.e. smiling, laughing) that's in line with curiosity and joyfulness. This was also confirmed in the interviews.

Conclusions: FMT holds promise as a therapeutic treatment for long-term musculoskeletal pain conditions. By utilizing music as a communication method alongside body language, individuals can experience pain relief, emotional regulation, and improved quality of life. Further research and clinical application of FMT can potentially enhance the overall care and well-being of individuals living with long-term musculoskeletal pain.