Refining Music Tempo for an Ergogenic Effect on Stationary Cycling Exercise

Regular physical activity has multifarious benefits for physical and mental health, and music has been found to exert positive effects on physical activity. Summative literature reviews and conceptual models have hypothesized potential benefits and salient mechanisms associated with music listening in exercise and sport contexts, although no large-scale objective summary of the literature has been conducted. A multilevel meta-analysis of 139 studies was used to quantify the effects of music listening in exercise and sport domains. In total, 600 effect sizes from four categories of potential benefits (i.e., psychological responses, physiological responses, psychophysical responses, and performance outcomes) were calculated based on 3,599 participants. Music was associated with significant beneficial effects on affective valence (g = 0.48, CI = 0.39, 0.56), physical performance (g = 0.31, CI = 0.25, 0.36), perceived exertion (g = 0.22, CI = 0.14, 0.30), and oxygen consumption (g = 0.15, CI = 0.02, 0.27). No significant benefit of music was found for heart rate (g = 0.07, CI =-0.03, 0.16). Performance effects were moderated by study domain (exercise > sport) and music tempo (fast > slow-to-medium). Overall, results supported the use of music listening across a range of physical activities to promote positive affective valence, enhance physical performance (i.e., ergogenic effect), reduce perceived exertion, and improve physiological efficiency.

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Effects of music in exercise and sport: A meta-analytic review.

Terry¹,

Karageorghis²,

Curran³

et al. 2020

Psychological Bulletin

220

239

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Listening to Fast-Tempo Music Improves Physical Performance in Recreational Swimmers

Corona¹,

Romero-Torres²,

Herrera

et al. 2022

Research Quarterly for Exercise and Sport

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Does the musical tempo enhance physical performance?

Corona¹,

Paz

Moncada-Jimènez

et al. 2020

Psychology of Music

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The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the musical tempo on heart rate (HR), rating of perceived exertion (RPE), and distance run (DR) during a treadmill aerobic test in young male and female adults. Participants ran on the treadmill listening to music at 140 beats per minute (bpm; M140), 120 bpm (M120), or without music (NM). No significant sex differences were found on HR (M140 = 172.6 ± 12.7, M120 = 171.9 ± 11.1, NM = 170.1 ± 12.2 bpm, p = .312), RPE (M140 = 7.5 ± 1.4, M120 = 7.6 ± 1.3, NM = 7.6 ± 1.2, p = .931), or DR (M140 = 4,791.4 ± 2,681.1, M120 = 4,900.0 ± 2,916.9, NM = 4,356.1 ± 2,571.2 m, p = .715). Differences were found in the effect of tempo on HR between condition M140 and NM (172.6 ± 12.7 vs. 170.1 ± 12.2 bpm, p = .044, η2 = 0.32). In conclusion, musical tempo does not affect performance, physiological, or perceptual variables in young adults exercising on a treadmill at a constant speed.

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Refining Music Tempo for an Ergogenic Effect on Stationary Cycling Exercise

Cited by 4 publications

References 21 publications

Effects of music in exercise and sport: A meta-analytic review.

Effects of music in exercise and sport: A meta-analytic review.

Listening to Fast-Tempo Music Improves Physical Performance in Recreational Swimmers

Does the musical tempo enhance physical performance?

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