The use of music to release the ties that bind.

The purpose of this descriptive pilot study was to determine the effect of a musical intervention on the behavioural reactions of physically restrained patients. Forty patients, of whom 23 were female and 17 were males with a mean age of 77, participated in the study. Patients listened to their preferred musical selection for a period of 30 minutes while they were out of their restraining device. The findings indicated that there was an increase in observed positive behaviours while patients listened to music as compared to the pre- or post-intervention phase. Music intervention may be appropriate for some patients as an alternative to physical restraints.