Music Induced Analgesia (MIA) in PT Practice

Overview

Music-Induced Analgesia (MIA) in PT Practice introduces a powerful, evidence-informed, and underutilized intervention for people living with chronic pain: music. Drawing from decades of research, clinical experience, and the innovative development of Pain the Musical, physiotherapist Bahram Jam explores how music can meaningfully influence pain perception, emotional regulation, and patient experience.

The course weaves together neuroscience, pain education, and the role of storytelling and emotion in healing. Participants will learn how pleasurable, personally meaningful music can activate the brain’s reward circuitry—including dopamine, endorphins, and oxytocin—to reduce pain, anxiety, and depression.

Despite robust research, MIA remains rarely implemented in clinical practice. This course addresses the barriers, misconceptions, and opportunities for integrating music intentionally and mindfully into PT sessions and patient self‑management programs.

You’ll also be introduced to the theatrical and artistic foundations of Pain the Musical—a groundbreaking project designed to deliver pain education through music and narrative. Through this lens, Bahram demonstrates how validating patients’ experiences, activating emotion, and engaging meaning can transform the way people relate to their pain.

By the end of the course, you will understand the science behind MIA, how to prescribe mindful music listening, how to address skepticism from patients and providers, and how to immediately begin using music as a safe, low‑cost, highly accessible adjunct to chronic pain care.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, participants will be able to:

1. Understand the science of Music-Induced Analgesia (MIA)
2. Integrate MIA into clinical practice
3. Combine MIA with Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) and exercise
4. Explore innovative formats—such as theatre, narrative, and music-based education—to deepen patient understanding of pain.
5. Advocate for safe, evidence-informed adjuncts in chronic pain care
6. Use music intentionally to enhance patient satisfaction and therapeutic alliance

Audience

This course is designed for:

• Physiotherapists and physical rehabilitation professionals
• Occupational therapists
• Chiropractors
• Kinesiologists and movement professionals
• Pain clinicians and interdisciplinary team members
• Students and residents interested in chronic pain management
• Any healthcare provider seeking an evidence-based, accessible, and innovative adjunct for supporting people with persistent pain

No musical background is required—only curiosity and openness to integrating an overlooked, deeply human tool into practice.