German scientists led by Dr. Thomas Fritz of the Max Planck Institute for Brain Research in Leipzig have discovered that working out in the gym with every given effort accompanied by music, make it easier to bear the load, than training and listening to music passively.
Non-professional participants (53 people aged from 18 to 59 years) were engaged in fitness in different circumstances: the first group used exercise equipment and listened passively to electronic dance music, whereas the second group received a musical response to every movement. The scientists included the third condition in the experiment: isometric exercises (Pilates, yoga) were performed to passive music, alternating 10-second efforts and 15-second relaxation. The scientists called this form of load more comparable with the exercises to the musical “feedback.” The experiment included three types of gym equipment: for the muscles of legs (a stepper), for abdominals, and for the back.
According to the researchers, the experiment showed that the load was significantly lower if the participant received musical response during exercise, and it was higher when the participants just listened to the music passively.
It turned out that people are less tired, if they get a sound answer to even the slightest efforts. Thus, real efforts that were exerted during exercises were not statistically different in the groups listening to passive and active music.
The authors suggest that this effect can be partly explained by a soothing effect of music that relieves muscle tension and leads to a more efficient supply of oxygen. On the other hand, the impact may cause emotional response to music, expressed with the help of movements.
