EFFECT OF MUSIC ON CARDIOVASCULAR
PERFORMANCE DURING TREADMILL WALKING
Carla Hepler and Rachel Kapke
by
Human Performance Laboratory, Truman State University, Kirksville, MO

Original Publication Information:
IAHPERD Journal Volume 29. No.2 Spring, 1996.

INTRODUCTION
Music has become an increasingly important aspect of sport and fitness. It provides motivation and distraction for those beginning an exercise program. However, the newest ideas concerning sport and music involve relaxation. Current research indicates that a relaxed and calm state of mind has a beneficial effect on exercise efficiency
(Copeland & Frank, 1991). Music is often used to achieve this relaxed state of mind. It has the ability to create an arousal state in which individuals may narrow attention, focus inward, and thus block out distractions (Dorney, Goh & Lee, 1992). While both exercise and music have proven to be effective coping mechanisms, limited research has linked the positive outcomes of these practices to each other. The purpose of this study was to compare the differences in physiological responses of subjects exercising with a musical relaxation aid to those exercising without it.

METHODS
Ten college students of varying physical fitness levels performed two 10-minute walks at 70% of age-predicted maximal heart rate on a motorized treadmill. Subjects were randomly assigned to exercise with headphones playing a relaxation tape during the walk or with no external intervention. Each test was administered on separate days with a minimum of one week between test sessions.

Throughout the walk subjects were connected to an automated metabolic cart to determine metabolic function. A PolarTM heart rate monitor was used to determine heart rate. The average of the final six minutes for each condition was used for analysis.

RESULTS
While ventilation and VO2 were not significantly different between the treatments, they were 3.6% and 9.0% lower, respectively, during the exercise to music trial (Table 1). Heart rate was significantly (p<0.05) lower during the exercise to music condition by 4.7% (Table 1).

CONCLUSIONS
Relaxation music did not significantly change the energy cost of walking, but it did produce a significantly lower cardiac stress. This agrees with previous work and indicates that music can influence exercise mood (Copeland & Franks, 1991). If the objective is to keep cardiac stress low while maintaining an exercise effect, as in a cardiac rehabilitation or stress management setting, relaxation music would be appropriate ergogenic aid. It is possible longer durations of exercise might manifest greater effects for the relaxation music condition.

TABLE 1. Comparison of exercise performance
with and without music (n = 10).
Variable NO Music Mean NO Music SD With Music Mean With Music SD % Delta t
VE (1/min) 46.6 11.1 44.9 11.8 3.6 1.10
VO2 (ml/kg/min) 26.8 8.2 24.4 4.7 9.0 1.08
HR (bpm) 150 9 143 15 4.7 2.30

REFERENCES