Effects of Music On Exercise

By James Spann

Effects of Music On Exercise

Does music affect how you exercise? The year was 1986. My girls basketball team was undefeated and we were in the city championship game against our tough cross town rival. Since we had already beat our opponent once during the season, my main job as coach was to find a way to keep my team from becoming complacent and taking our opponent for granted.

I decided to play a song called “When The Going Get Tough, The Tough Get Going” every day of practice prior to the game. To my surprise, the girls played with more energy and passion than ever before. We won the City Championship game by 40 points!


I really believe that the music played during my practices gave my players extra motivation, and made them work harder in preparation for the championship game.
If you’re in a workout rut, changing up your tunes or adding music to your workout may also benefit you. Having some good tunes to keep you going can make any workout more pleasurable. A few of the specific ways that music affects your exercise routine:

Music And Exercise Creates Higher Motivation

A study performed on people walking on treadmills both with and without music showed that those who listened to music felt more motivated. In another study, people with access to high intensity, energetic music reported greater enjoyment of their exercise and also did more reps than those who lifted weights either silently or with the accompaniment of rhythmic beats but no melody. If there are aspects of your workout that you tend to find boring or repetitive, music can help you stay interested and motor on.

Music And Exercise Results In Better Coordination

When we listen to music, we unconsciously start moving to the beat. During a workout, this can enhance our coordination. If you are trying new activities that require a high amount of motor coordination, music can help you master your new skills. Better coordination also means less chance of injury caused by missed steps during exercise.

More Intense Workouts Results From Music And Exercise

 When we listen to music with a high number of beats per minute, we increase our pace, as well. Listening to dance music while you run, use a treadmill or ride a stationary bike can increase the intensity of your exercise. This is great if you are looking for more noticeable results or to move up to the next level in your level of cardio health. But, there’s one thing the music doesn’t do: studies show that, even with the music, you still feel the fatigue toward the end when you are working out hard.

 

Music And Exercise Produces Greater Relaxation

Getting ready for a race or any other competition? Music can help calm you, which leads to better performance. Plus, music also makes it easier to keep up the work even when it is physically uncomfortable. This is a bit help when you are adding additional reps or trying new moves. In studies, the most effective music for a calming effect was music that was familiar and also calmer in pace; pick out your favorite mellow tunes when introducing new strength moves.
To make the most of the effects of various music, make workout-specific playlists. Calming and familiar tunes can help you keep your form during Pilates, yoga or stretching. Driving dance tunes can up the intensity of your cardio. By picking the right music for every purpose, you can get more out of every workout or exercise.

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