Effects of Stimulative vs. Sedative Music on Psychophysiological Variables during Active Recovery from Intense Exercise

Abstract

There is an established and growing body of evidence that appropriately selected music can positively influence psychophysical responses to exercise (see Karageorghis & Karageorghis, 2012a). One understudied area of interest pertaining to these effects concerns the use of music during recovery from exercise. PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to examine the influence of music played during recovery from a Wingate anaerobic test (WAnT) on lactate clearance, heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and subsequent WAnT performance. METHODS: 45 anaerobically trained male subjects were randomly assigned to one of three groups: Stimulative music, sedative music, or no-music control. Subjects completed two 30s WAnTs with 10 min of active recovery (self-paced unloaded cycling) between. During the recovery period the experimental participants listened to pre-selected music using an iPod and headphones. Blood lactate (BLa) and HR were measured at baseline, immediately after the first WAnT, and at the end of the active recovery period. RPE was measured immediately after the first WAnT, and at min-5 and min-10 of the active recovery period. WAnT performance (i.e. peak power and mean power) was recorded in both trials. Data were analyzed using mixed factorial ANOVAs. RESULTS: Subjects in the stimulative music group had a higher mean HR during recovery (p<0.05) but significantly lower RPE (p<.05) when compared to the sedative and control groups. Moreover, there was a significant (p<.05) group by time interaction for BLa, wherein subjects in the stimulative music group showed a pre-post recovery drop in BLa that was not evident in the other groups. The group by time interaction for peak power (PP) did not reach statistical significance (p = .07) but was associated with a moderate sized effect (η2 =.13). Subjects in the stimulative music group increased PP from Trial 1 to Trial 2, whereas subjects in the sedative and control groups decreased PP from Trial 1 to Trial 2. There was a main effect of time for mean power, but no interaction. CONCLUSIONS: It appears that stimulative music has motivational qualities that exerts a positive influence on self-paced recovery, wherein participants are motivated to move at a faster rate, which can facilitate blood lactate clearance.