Researchers have maderapid strides on studying overall physical activity amongst humans. Whenexamining physical activity, the diversity of studies on the topic contributes tomultiple facets of physical activity and exercise (Karageorhis, Priest, 2012). Priorto the mid-1990’s, studies relating music to exercise were scanty (13) whichwas initially examined by (Karageorhis, Terry, 1997), and reexamined a secondtime in 2011 (Karageorhis, Priest, 2012). In addition to the timely growth inthe amount of studies, a growth in truth caused by carelessness of a multitudeof variables has come.
Music selection is imperative when being coupled withexercise. Tunes or melodies which are personal favorites (that which thesubject would individually choose) or those that arouse certain expressions stimulateexplicit responses. Naturally, anticipated degrees of endurance, power, andstrength demonstrate this (Biagini, Brown, Coburn, Judelson, Statler, Bottaro,Tran, Longo, 2012)., Typically induced, these physical testimonies of musical motivationare correlated to psychological benefitsMusicalstimulation has shown to induce individuals to perform better (Jarraya,Chtourou, Souissi). Studies concerning this topic are not new to research.
Researchhas been conducted using subjects at colleges and universities with agesranging from 18-21 years old. This paper will observe the research includingsubjects who match this standard. Many aspects of physical activity arehighlighted by this single stimulus that when they are all integrated together,they yield clear differences compared to the control groups (those who had nomusical intervention). This essay assesses and relates a handful ofdissertations which were conducted on the topic of musical stimulus duringexercise along with the functional effects that are invigorated by thisstimulus.In the study “TheEffects of Music on High-intensity Short-term Exercise in Well TrainedAthletes” (Jarraya, Chtourou, Souissi, 2012), twelve male subjects wereselected and studied regarding the effects of adding high tempo music (>120-140 bpm). The focal points of this study were the resulting heart rates andratings of perceive exertion. Borg’s Ratings of Perceived Exertion (RPE) wereexclusively used in all studies referred to in this paper to assess thesesubjects. Two sessions of exercise were required to assess benefits of musicalstimulus, one with the variable and one without.
In attempt to mimic thecircumstances that a typical athlete would endure, exposure to music was onlyallowed during the ten-minute warm-up period prior to performing a Wingatetest. The Wingate test had subjects at one point pedal as fast as possible inorder to produce peak and mean powers during the test. Heart rates weremeasured throughout testing, and ratings of perceived exertion were evaluatedusing the Borg’s scale. Statistical analysis revealed that musical stimulus didnot affect subject heart rate or their perceived exertion. However, it didreflect a substantial increase in peak (4.1+/-3.6) and mean (4.
0+/-3.70) powerratings. The results of this study suggest beneficial effects of musicalstimulation during warm-up performances.Multiple effects of music have been evaluatedthrough many different experiments and studies. Reoccurring themes of lowerRPE, as well as increases in performance such as running longer distances orgenerating higher velocities or power were present in most articles that wereevaluated. Some even referred to the addition of music to exercise as a “legalperformance enhancing drug”.
Although not all claims are supported whencomparing two of the studies examined, it should be noted that no negativeoutcomes such as a decrease in performance or a higher RPE was ever the resultwhen music was included with exercise. This proves that athletes or individualsshould surely consider making the addition of music to their exercise regimenif they desire to potentially increase their performance.
