Music and the relation to human activity dates back thousands of years, shaping emotions, conflicts, and cultural interactions. In times of battle or promoting peace, music helped motivate people with these events. Other than this, music preference has been recognized as a key factor in shaping mood and overall well-being. Cultural significance of music has been studied for a long time. Although, when it comes to modern sports and exercise performance, music’s direct impact has only gained attention in recent years.
Music’s role in sports became particularly prominent in the 20th century, when it was included in Olympic ceremonies and certain events like gymnastics and figure skating. Now it is associated with almost every competitive sport. With technological advances and personal audio devices, music has further expanded its use with training. Elite athletes often listen to music during workouts, pre-competition, and warm-ups, to help enhance mood, motivation, and performance. This has led to extensive research in the area of music and the performance-enhancing effects in exercise. This research with putting music to the test has been great for athletes allowing them to gain a competitive edge.
But WAIT! The benefits of music are not just for athletes’, everyday individuals can wreak the benefits as well, even more so in the area of keeping stimulated and not getting bored. Music not only makes exercise more enjoyable and accessible, whether it’s a jog, gym workout, or home fitness routine, but it provides motivation, reduces boredom, and helps maintain consistency. Unlike elite athletes, who often use music to fine-tune performance, recreational exercisers primarily benefit from its ability to make physical activity feel less strenuous. Studies suggest that listening to music can increase adherence to exercise programs by making workouts more pleasant and reducing the mental resistance to starting or sustaining effort. There is also vigour, the feeling of energy and vitality which has also been shown to increase during exercise.
Additionally, certain music characteristics, such as tempo and volume, can either be positive or negative to performance as too much or too little can hinder exercise. Also, non-preferred music played over public speakers may hinder exercise by reducing motivation and performance. Personalized playlists appear to offer the most benefit, so it is best to have individual preferences, whether through personal headphones or designated music zones in training spaces.
Podcasts also serve as an alternative auditory stimulus during exercise. They provide motivation, mental engagement, and productivity by allowing individuals to learn while they train. They can prevent monotony, improve active listening skills, and offer an alternative to music for those seeking variety.
Watching TV during exercise can enhance motivation, reduce boredom, and add entertainment to workouts. However, excessive screen engagement may lead to distractions, reduced intensity, and poor exercise form. While it can be beneficial for lighter activities, there should be careful consideration to ensure it does not interfere with the workout’s effectiveness.
Ultimately, the choice, whether it’s music, podcasts, or a visual program on TV, phone or iPad, it should align with individual preferences and training goals. Again, music in particular when self-selected, remains one of the most effective tools for boosting performance, motivation, and overall exercise enjoyment for both athletes and everyday people alike.
At DEEM, we always try match your workout music to your preferences.
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8167645/
Mikkie Nettles-Pollon, Certified Personal Trainer/Holistic & Sports Nutritionist
Not sure where to begin, contact me at info@deemhealth.ca
250-541 -0411.
www.deamhealth.ca
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