Effects of music tempo on perceived exertion, attention, affect, heart rate, and performance during isometric strength exercise.
Level 2 - randomized trial
Individual randomized controlled trial
PubMed 32865471 · doi:10.1080/02640414.2020.1809974
What was done
Participants were randomly assigned to one of three conditions: no-music control, fast-tempo music, or slow-tempo music. Participants performed two isometric strength exercises (wall-sit and plank) to volitional exhaustion while investigators measured rating of perceived exertion (RPE), attention allocation, affect, heart rate, and performance duration.
What was found
The abstract reports no numerical values, effect sizes, or p-values. Participants in both fast-tempo and slow-tempo music conditions maintained a dissociative focus longer than the no-music control group during the wall-sit exercise, but this difference did not occur during the plank exercise. Neither music condition altered heart rate, RPE, time to volitional exhaustion, or affect.
Why it matters
Listening to music may offer task-specific distraction during some isometric efforts, but tempo changes do not appear to reduce perceived exertion or improve physical endurance during static holds.
Limits
The abstract omits sample size, participant demographics, training history, and all quantitative data (means, standard deviations, confidence intervals). The psychological distraction effect was inconsistent between the two exercises.
Cited by
- context Intentionally playing music during training provides a small benefit in muscle growth, and generally higher tempo music is more effective.