BY THE OPTIMIST DAILY EDITORIAL TEAM
When each breath feels like a struggle, even speaking can feel like a chore. But for a growing number of people with chronic lung conditions, the path to relief might just be set to music.
A recent study has shown that online group singing can significantly improve the quality of life for people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and interstitial lung disease (ILD), both of which often cause chronic breathlessness. Led by Professor Natasha Smallwood, a respiratory specialist at The Alfred Hospital and Monash University, the research offers hope and harmony to those with limited treatment options.
“Chronic breathlessness is a common and highly distressing symptom for people with COPD and ILD,” said Smallwood. “Yet there is a lack of safe, effective, and acceptable treatment options for managing this symptom.”
A tune-up for tired lungs
While group singing has long been used to support people with neurological or mental health conditions, its benefits for people with lung disease were less well documented. That’s where the SINFONIA study comes in (yes, that’s Italian for “symphony”).
The randomized controlled trial included 101 participants, with 64 diagnosed with COPD and 37 with ILD. Half the group joined a 12-week online singing program, while the others received standard care, which included everything from medication and vaccines to self-management education.
Zoom choirs and breathing breakthroughs
Each week, the singing group logged onto 90-minute Zoom sessions run by a registered music therapist. Sessions included breathing warm-ups, vocal exercises, learning classic songs like “Let It Be” and “Can’t Help Falling in Love,” and, perhaps just as importantly, a chance to chat and connect. Participants also received recordings to practice at home.
Turns out, singing your heart out really can make a difference. On average, those in the singing group scored 7.4 points higher on the SF-36 questionnaire, which measures health-related quality of life across multiple domains. The improvements were particularly notable among participants who attended at least eight of the twelve sessions.
“We saw the greatest improvements in the domains that measure limitations due to physical health or emotional problems,” said Smallwood.
Music, mood, and measurable change
Not all participants experienced the same benefits in the same way, but the researchers found notable improvements among women, people with anxiety or depression, and those who hadn’t previously completed a pulmonary rehab program.
“The way in which group singing improves quality of life remains unclear and may vary for different participants,” said Smallwood. “But it could be due to better control of breathing, social connection, or mood improvements.”
The study’s playful delivery method didn’t come at the expense of serious science. Singing, it turns out, may do more than lift spirits; it can offer a non-invasive, accessible way to support lung health.
Notes from the future of care
Presented recently at the European Respiratory Society (ERS) Congress in Amsterdam, the SINFONIA trial adds to a growing body of research that embraces creativity in healthcare.
While more studies are needed to fully understand the mechanisms behind the improvements, one thing is clear: breath by breath, note by note, singing therapy is hitting the right tone.
