Effects of Listening to Preferred versus Non-Preferred Music on Repeated Wingate Anaerobic Test Performance.

Christopher G Ballmann,Mallory R Marshall,Daniel J Maynard,Zachary N Lafoon,Tyler D Williams,Rebecca R Rogers

doi:10.3390/sports7080185

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of listening to preferred or non-preferred music on repeated sprint performance. Fourteen physically active males (ages 18–25 years) were recruited for this study. In a counterbalanced crossover study design, participants completed two separate visits. During each visit, participants listened to either preferred or non-preferred music and completed 3 × 15 s Wingate Anaerobic Tests (WAnTs) separated by 2 min active recovery periods. Each visit was separated by a minimal recovery period of 48 h. Anaerobic performance measures, heart rate, rate of perceived exertion (RPE), and motivation were analyzed. Mean power (p = 0.846, effect size (ES) = 0.019), anaerobic capacity (p = 0.686, ES = 0.058), and total work (p = 0.677, ES = 0.039) were not significantly different between preferred and non-preferred music conditions. Mean heart rate (p = 0.608; ES = 0.125) was also unchanged. Motivation to exercise (p < 0.001; ES = 1.520) was significantly higher in the preferred music condition. Additionally, the rate of perceived exertion (RPE) (p = 0.028; ES = 0.540) was significantly lower during the preferred music condition. Our results show that listening to preferred music showed no ergogenic benefit during repeated anaerobic cycling sprints when compared to non-preferred music. However, preferred music increased motivation to exercise and decreased perceived exertion. The results from this study could hold important implications for the application of music and enduring repeated high-intensity sprint exercise.

Highlights

Music is an external source that serves as an ergogenic aid in a wide arrange of exercise modes and intensities [1,2,3]
For anaerobic capacity (Figure 1b), there was a main effect for test (p < 0.001; ηp 2 = 0.771), while there was no main effect for condition (p = 0.878; ηp 2 < 0.001) or interaction for condition and test (p = 0.148; ηp 2 = 0.068)
For total work (Figure 1c), there was a main effect for test (p < 0.001; ηp 2 = 0.764), while there was no main effect for condition (p = 0.918; ηp 2 < 0.001) or interaction for condition and test (p = 0.155; ηp 2 = 0.138)

Summary

Introduction

Music is an external source that serves as an ergogenic aid in a wide arrange of exercise modes and intensities [1,2,3]. The exact mechanisms for improvements in performance while listening to music are debated, much of the previous evidence suggests that music dissociates focus from exertion during exercise. Ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) during exercise have been shown to decrease with music by multiple groups [4,5]. Music preference has shown to be an important factor in determining the ergogenic potential of music [1,2]. How preference affects previously mentioned mechanisms is unclear, especially in anaerobic exercise

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Conclusion