The purpose of this study was to assess the effects of listening to music during warm-up and resistance exercise on physiological (heart rate and blood pressure) and psychophysical (rating of perceived exertion) responses in trained athletes. Twelve strength trained male participants performed warm-up and resistance exercise without music (WU+RE without M), warm-up and resistance exercise with music (WU+RE with M), WU with M and RE without M, and WU without M and RE with M, with 48 hours space between sessions. After completing each session, the rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was measured. Also, heart rate (HR), systolic (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and rate pressure product (RPP) were assessed before, after, and 15, 30, 45, and 60 min after exercise. Results indicated that RPE was higher for WU+RE without M condition in comparison with other conditions. All conditions showed increases in cardiovascular variables after exercise. The responses of HR, SBP, and RPP were higher for WU+RE without M condition. Thus, using music during warm-up and resistance exercise is a legal method for decreasing RPE and cardiovascular responses due to resistance exercise.
Resistance training is important not only for athletes but also for members of the general population [
Several researchers have focused on the ergogenic aid of music during warm-up, exercise, and cool-down to enhance performance [
Another effect of listening to music is physiological (heart rate and systolic and diastolic blood pressure). Edworthy and Waring [
It is widely known that the autonomic nervous system is involved in control of HR and cardiovascular responses. That is, increased sympathetic neural activity plays a role in controlling the rate and contractility of the heart and in the caliber of resistance and capacitance vessels in the systemic circulation [
Although previous studies supported the hypothesis of the ergogenic effects of music on cardiovascular performance, it is important to examine music’s effect with trained athletes and using music during warm-up and circuit-type resistance exercise. The effects of music played during an exercise task on athletic performance have been previously studied. Yet, these results are not applicable for well-trained athletes and using music during warm-up and circuit-type resistance exercise with emphasis on physiological aspects. Therefore, the aim of this study was to compare four conditions of combining music and resistance exercise on physiological and psychophysical responses in trained athletes.
Twelve healthy well-trained resistance exercise males (Table
Participants characteristics and resting cardiovascular parameters (mean ± SD).
Number of athletes | 12 |
---|---|
Age (y) | 24 ± 2 |
Height (cm) | 175.1 ± 6.4 |
Weight (kg) | 83.7 ± 11.2 |
Strength training experience (y) | 5.2 ± 1.3 |
Heart rate (bpm) | 70.6 ± 6.8 |
Systolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 120.1 ± 7.3 |
Diastolic blood pressure (mmHg) | 79.7 ± 3.1 |
At least one week prior to starting the treatments, all athletes reported to the laboratory, and during this session their body weight and height were determined in a standardized fashion. Height was measured in centimeters using a stadiometer (Seca 222, Terre Haute, IN) and body mass was measured in kilograms using a digital scale (Tanita, BC-418MA, Tokyo, Japan). At this session, the participants understood the procedures and experimental approach of this study and performed selected resistance exercises for familiarization, and then the one repetition maximum for each exercise was measured following NSCA guidelines [
The research design consisted of four experimental conditions. Each athlete was tested four times under the same laboratory conditions in a randomized manner. Condition 1 (WU+RE without M) consisted of performing warm-up and resistance exercise without music. For condition 2 (WU+RE with M) the athletes listened to music during warm-up and while performing resistance exercise. Condition 3 (WU with M+RE without M) consisted of performing warm-up with M and performing resistance exercise without M, and for condition 4 (WU without M+RE with M), the athletes performed warm-up without listening to music and listened to music during resistance exercise.
Total time of warm-up was 10 minutes including five minutes of cycling on a cycle-ergometer (Sport Art Fitness, C52u, Taiwan) at a self-selected workload and cadence and five minutes of various stretching exercises with the aim of preparing the joints for resistance exercises. Resistance exercises included the squat, military press, leg press, lat pull dawn, knee flexion, bench press, knee extension, biceps extension, calf raise, and arm curl. The athletes performed a set of 10 repetitions with 60% of one repetition maximum, continually and without rest between stations. Only one circuit was performed by each participant.
Due to the exercise type of resistance exercise and the relationship between arousal and sympathetic nervous system with resistance exercise, fast (130 beats per minute [bpm]) tempo music was chosen for this study. The selection criteria were based on the five recommendations of Karageorghis and Terry [
The RPE was assessed using CR-15 RPE scale. The RPE scale has been shown to be a valid instrument in which to evaluate perceived exertion and quantification of resistance exercise intensity in a variety of populations. Citation numbers from 6 to 20 on the scale were used to rate the intensity of the entire workout session. A rating of 6 was associated with rest, and the highest rating, 20, referred to maximal effort. After completing a circuit of resistance exercises, the athlete was asked “How would you rate your effort?” The participants would verbally indicate a number to rate their overall effort based on score of 6 to 20 [
Heart rate and blood pressure were measured before starting the conditions in a seated position in a quiet and comfortable place (prevalue). After performing each condition, the athletes’ heart rate and blood pressure were measured every 15 minutes for 60 minutes. During postexercise assessment, the participants maintained seated positions in a quiet and comfortable place. Heart rate (HR) was measured using a Polar S610i HR monitor (FIN, 90440, Finland).
Blood pressure was measured by the same experienced observer using a standard mercury sphygmomanometer (Missouri) and stethoscope (Rappaport GF Health Products, Northeast Parkway Atlanta). Systolic blood pressure (SBP) was determined as the appearance of Korotkoff sounds, while the point of disappearance of these sounds was considered to be the diastolic blood pressure (DBP). Mean arterial pressure (MAP) was calculated as DBP + [0.333 (SBP − DBP)]. The rate pressure product (RPP) was calculated as SBP × heart rate. It is considered a reliable predictor of myocardial oxygen demand [
Data are presented as means ± SD. Prior to analysis, data normality was checked with the Kalmogorov-Smirnoff test. Repeated measures analysis of variance (ANOVA) was used for determining differences. When a significant
The repeated measures ANOVA showed a significant difference among the mean RPE values of the conditions (
Rating of perceived exertion following 4 conditions; 1: WU+RE without M, 2: WU+RE with M, 3: WU with M+RE without M, and 4: WU without M+RE with M.
Total time of completing a circuit of resistance exercise was higher for condition 1 compared to the other conditions (
Completion time for a circuit resistance exercise (mean ± SD). 1: WU+RE without M, 2: WU+RE with M, 3: WU with M+RE without M, and 4: WU without M+RE with M.
Heart rate, SBP, DBP, MAP, and RPP values for each condition are presented in Table
Heart rate (HR), systolic blood pressure (SBP), diastolic blood pressure (DBP), mean arterial pressure (MAP), and rate pressure product (RPE) responses to warm-up and resistance exercise with and without of music. Values are mean ± SD.
Conditions | Variable/time | |||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
HR (bpm) | ||||||
Before | After |
15 min |
30 min† | 45 min |
60 min | |
|
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Condition 1 | 69.8 ± 7.7 | 133.9 ± 18.1 | 96.1 ± 9.8 | 80.5 ± 8.7 | 78.5 ± 9.3 | 75 ± 9.9 |
Condition 2 | 72.6 ± 10.5 | 138.8 ± 16.4 | 95.6 ± 9 | 78.5 ± 10.1 | 73.4 ± 8.6 | 69.5 ± 8.2 |
Condition 3 | 68 ± 8.4 | 131.5 ± 22.6 | 93.8 ± 14.6 | 79.3 ± 12 | 72.6 ± 10.6 | 69.5 ± 8.9 |
Condition 4 | 72 ± 7.1 | 134.3 ± 16.6 | 93.6 ± 11.8 | 77.8 ± 10.8 | 72.1 ± 8.4 | 70.6 ± 9.3 |
|
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SBP (mmHg) | ||||||
Before | After |
15 min‡ | 30 min |
45 min | 60 min | |
|
||||||
Condition 1 | 116.9 ± 6.7 | 142 ± 8.3 | 129.1 ± 10.1 | 124.4 ± 9.9 | 120.8 ± 7.3 | 115.9 ± 6.2 |
Condition 2 | 116.1 ± 6.7 | 141.9 ± 9.4 | 125.8 ± 9.9 | 120.1 ± 8 | 117.7 ± 6.8 | 115.8 ± 5.5 |
Condition 3 | 120.7 ± 8.1 | 146 ± 7.5 | 129.3 ± 7.7 | 126.4 ± 7.2 | 119.3 ± 6.3 | 119.2 ± 6.5 |
Condition 4 | 120.7 ± 8.1 | 149.5 ± 6.2 | 131.2 ± 9.5 | 122.9 ± 7.8 | 119.8 ± 6.8 | 119.5 ± 7.5 |
|
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DBP (mmHg) | ||||||
Pre | Post | 15-min | 30-min | 45-min | 60-min | |
|
||||||
Condition 1 | 78.7 ± 3.1 | 84.7 ± 4.3 | 80.9 ± 2.1 | 81.2 ± 5.2 | 79.1 ± 3.2 | 79.5 ± 2.5 |
Condition 2 | 80 ± 2.1 | 85.4 ± 4.5 | 82.5 ± 3.9 | 80.2 ± 2.6 | 80 ± 2.1 | 79.5 ± 1.4 |
Condition 3 | 79.9 ± 1.7 | 85 ± 3.6 | 81.8 ± 3.2 | 81.6 ± 4.9 | 80 ± 2.1 | 79.7 ± 1.6 |
Condition 4 | 80.5 ± 3.9 | 84.8 ± 5.4 | 81.8 ± 3.2 | 82.2 ± 3.2 | 80.5 ± 1.5 | 80 ± 1 |
|
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MAP (mmHg) | ||||||
Before | After |
15 min‡ | 30 min | 45 min | 60 min | |
|
||||||
Condition 1 | 97.8 ± 3.9 | 113.4 ± 5.6 | 104.8 ± 5.6 | 102.6 ± 6.2 | 92.4 ± 6.5 | 97.7 ± 3.5 |
Condition 2 | 98 ± 3.5 | 113.6 ± 5.9 | 104.1 ± 6.2 | 100.2 ± 4.4 | 99.9 ± 3.8 | 99.5 ± 3.8 |
Condition 3 | 100.3 ± 4.4 | 115.5 ± 4.4 | 105.5 ± 4.5 | 104.4 ± 5.2 | 99.6 ± 3.4 | 99.5 ± 3.3 |
Condition 4 | 100.6 ± 5.1 | 116.1 ± 3.6 | 106.5 ± 5.5 | 102.5 ± 4.4 | 100.2 ± 3.1 | 99.7 ± 3.7 |
|
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RPP (bpm × mmHg) | ||||||
Before | After |
15 min |
30 min |
45 min‡ | 60 min | |
|
||||||
Condition 1 | 8190 ± 1224.4 | 19118 ± 3518.9 | 12434 ± 1784.4 | 10067 ± 1684.4 | 9512 ± 1422.7 | 8735 ± 1429 |
Condition 2 | 8449 ± 1348.6 | 19790 ± 3377.6 | 12077 ± 1854 | 9471 ± 1557 | 8665 ± 1286.9 | 8073 ± 1122 |
Condition 3 | 8245 ± 1319 | 19222 ± 3512.9 | 12567 ± 1741.2 | 10047 ± 1711.1 | 8698 ± 1523.4 | 8320 ± 1394.5 |
Condition 4 | 8707 ± 1175.5 | 19789 ± 2436.1 | 12305 ± 1878 | 9591 ± 1612.7 | 8674 ± 1313.5 | 8498 ± 1552.2 |
Condition 1: WU+RE without M, condition 2: WU+RE with M, condition 3: WU with M+RE without M, and condition 4: WU without M+RE with M.
No significant differences were observed at any time points of postexercise SBP (
SBP and MAP increased significantly after exercise in comparison to before exercise (
The changes in DBP at all time points were not statistically significant for all conditions. For RPP, all conditions showed significant increases until 30 minutes after exercise when compared to preexercise values (
The aim of this study was to examine the effects of listening to music on warm-up and circuit-type resistance exercise. The results showed that the rating of perceived exertion was higher for participants who performed both warm-up and resistance exercise without music in comparison with other conditions that played music for at least the warm-up or resistance exercise or both. There were significant differences between WU+RE without M and WU+RE with music in perceived exertion that support music as ergogenic aid. The results of the present study are consistent with those of previous studies that reported reduced RPE while listening to music. Nethery et al. [
To date, this study was the first investigation that examined the effects of music during warm-up or circuit-type resistance exercise on physiological or cardiovascular responses (HR, SBP, DBP, MAP, and RPP) in well-trained athletes. The results showed that postexercise HR, SBP, MAP, and RPP significantly increased in comparison with before exercise for all conditions. Likewise, RPP and HR were high until 15 minutes after exercise in all conditions. Moreover, HR, SBP, and RPP remained elevated until 30-to-45 min after exercise for the WU+RE without M condition. These findings revealed the ergogenic effect of music for decreasing cardiovascular responses to exercise. This is a surprising finding because of the common notion that music serves as a distraction from the exercise itself, and other investigators have reported an increase in HR and blood pressure due to stimulation of the sympathetic nervous system when listening to music while exercising [
The limitation of the study was the number of subjects. The limitations of this study include the low number of subjects which prevents generalization of the results. Additionally the results of the current investigation are based on nonsporting population, and further research is needed to determine if similar effects are obtained in the sporting population and during sport events. Moreover, there is no financial support for this project and we did not measure some of blood indicators, which can be a subject for further researches. In this study we used only one circuit and for further studies the researchers can increase number of circuits (i.e., 3 times).
In light of these study findings, fast tempo music (130 bpm) may decrease perceived exertion in well-trained individuals during a warm-up when completing circuit resistance exercise training. Likewise, music may be considered as a legal ergogenic aid for well-trained athletes during warm-up prior to resistance exercise and during resistance exercise for decreasing perceived exertion and minimizing training time. Thus, professional strength and conditioning coaches and practitioners interested in resistance exercise may be well advised to incorporate arousing music during warm-up and exercise sessions. Music may decrease physiological and/or cardiovascular responses in athletes while performing resistance exercise. Therefore, it can be recommend that coaches and strength and conditioning professionals use music during warm-up and resistance exercise for the decreases of RPE and cardiovascular responses.
The authors declare that there is no conflict of interests regarding the publication of this paper.