The Effects Of Self-selected Music On Recovery From A Fatiguing Bout Of Isokinetic Leg Extensions

Abstract

Previous studies have proven the effectiveness of passive and active diverting activities in alleviating neuromuscular fatigue after strenuous bouts of exercise. To the best of our knowledge, there is limited research investigating the effects of music as a diverting activity in fatiguing exercise protocols. PURPOSE: To investigate the effects of listening to self-selected music as a passive diverting recovery intervention on peak torque, total work, and fatigue index. METHODS: On two separate occasions, five males (21.4 ± 0.9 years; 163.5 ± 15.0 cm; 74.1 ± 5.7kg) and four females (23.3 ± 2.1 years; 168.3 ± 9.8cm; 64.2 ± 9.8 kg) performed a fatiguing exercise protocol involving two bouts of 50 maximal isokinetic leg extensions at 180°·s-1 using the right limb. Between each bout of maximal exercise, one of the following recovery interventions was completed for two minutes: listening to white noise (passive recovery) or listening to self-selected music (passive diverting activity). The order of interventions was randomized for each participant. RESULTS: There was a significant (p<0.05) decrease in peak torque from the pre-intervention (115.9 ± 18.9 Nm) to post-intervention test (109.1 ± 25.6 Nm) for the white noise condition, but not for the self-selected music condition (pre-intervention = 110.1 ± 22.8 Nm, post-intervention = 108.8 ± 24.8 Nm). For total work, there was a significant main effect for time (p<0.05), where total work performed on the post-intervention test (2,454.0 ± 590.3 Nm) was significantly less than the pre-intervention test (2,849.0 ± 680.4 Nm). For fatigue index, there was no significant interaction or main effect (p>0.05). CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that utilizing self-selected music as a diverting activity can reduce peak torque decline associated with a maximal, fatiguing isokinetic leg extension test.