The effect of music on submaximal cycling
Date
2006-11-01T10:47:46Z
Authors
Schie, Nicola Alison
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Abstract
INTRODUCTION:
Athletes frequently report training to music yet there have been relatively few studies that
have addressed the benefit of exercising with music.
PURPOSE:
This study examined the effects of popular music on submaximal cycling.
METHOD:
Volunteer men and women (N=30), aged between 18 and 40 years, underwent an initial
familiarisation session. Part of this session involved the measurement of maximal oxygen
consumption (V02max). This was then followed by two twenty-minute submaximal
cycling sessions, both at 80% of maximal oxygen consumption. Subjects were randomly
divided into two groups. Group A cycled without any music and Group B cycled with
music for the first submaximal cycling session. A few days later the subjects underwent
the same testing procedure, however this time group A cycled to music and group B
cycled without music. Subjects served as their own control. During the submaximal
procedure heart rate, Borg Scale and lactate responses were assessed. Subjects completed
a post-test questionnaire once both submaximal cycling sessions were completed.
The differences between the sessions with and without music with respect to heart rate,
Borg Scale and change in lactate were analysed using an appropriate analysis of variance
(ANOVA) for the two-period crossover design adjusting for relevant baselines. Testing
was set at the 0.05 level of significance.
RESULTS:
It was found that listening to music, while cycling, resulted in no significant changes in
physiological variables (change in lactate concentration and heart rate). The average, as
well as the instantaneous two-minute intervals of the 10-point Borg scale also yielded no
significant difference. However, 66.7% of the subjects, according to the post-test
questionnaire, perceived the cycling session with music to be easier than the session
without music.
CONCLUSION:
Listening to music, while cycling, may allow individuals to alter their overall, subjective
perception of cycling. According to the post-test questionnaire, subjects perceived their
overall experience of cycling with music to be easier than cycling without music. This
could suggest that cycling to music could act as a positive distracter and motivating force
that could thereby increase adherence to training, allowing the cyclist to train longer and
harder and thus in the long run perform better in races. However, from a physiological
viewpoint, listening to music, while performing submaximal cycling, resulted in no
physiological benefit.
Description
Student Number : 9601456A -
MSc research report -
School of Therapeutic Sciences -
Faculty of Science
Keywords
music, submaximal, cycling