Effects of synchronous music among elite endurance athletes

Effects of synchronous music were investigated in two field studies. In Study 1, music effects were assessed among two elite triathletes and six elite runners during three training runs. A custom-designed iPhone application was developed to record in-task RPE, feeling states, mood responses, distance run, cadence and heart rate data. Compared to the no-music condition, participants ran, on average, 7.5% and 7.2% further but reported lower RPE and more positive feelings and mood responses when running to synchronous music (d = .35) and a music-led condition (d = .29), respectively. In Study 2, nine elite ultra-distance athletes participating in 24-hr and 48-hr races listened to rotating playlists of synchronous motivational music, neutral music, audiobook and silence delivered by iPhone. During the 18-24 hr period, motivational music was associated with a 14 sec, 18 sec and 27 sec per 400-m lap improvement compared to silence (d = .39, p < .01), neutral music (d = .54, p < .001) and audio book (d = .54, p < .001) conditions, respectively. Collectively, findings supported the judicious use of music interventions among endurance athletes

Effects of synchronous music on treadmill running among elite triathletes

This is the post-print version of the final paper published in Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport. The published article is available from the link below. Changes resulting from the publishing process, such as peer review, editing, corrections, structural formatting, and other quality control mechanisms may not be reflected in this document. Changes may have been made to this work since it was submitted for publication. Copyright @ 2011 Elsevier B.V.Objectives: Music can provide ergogenic, psychological, and psychophysical benefits during physical activity, especially when movements are performed synchronously with music. The present study developed the train of research on synchronous music and extended it to elite athletes. Design: Repeated-measures laboratory experiment. Method: Elite triathletes (n = 11) ran in time to self-selected motivational music, a neutral equivalent and a no-music control during submaximal and exhaustive treadmill running. Measured variables were time-to-exhaustion, mood responses, feeling states, RPE, blood lactate concentration, oxygen consumption and running economy. Results: Time-to-exhaustion was 18.1% and 19.7% longer, respectively, when running in time to motivational and neutral music, compared to no music. Mood responses and feeling states were more positive with motivational music compared to either neutral music or no music. RPE was lowest for neutral music and highest for the no-music control. Blood lactate concentrations were lowest for motivational music. Oxygen consumption was lower with music by 1.0%–2.7%. Both music conditions were associated with better running economy than the no-music control. Conclusions: Although neutral music did not produce the same level of psychological benefits as motivational music, it proved equally beneficial in terms of time-to-exhaustion and oxygen consumption. In functional terms, the motivational qualities of music may be less important than the prominence of its beat and the degree to which participants are able to synchronise their movements to its tempo. Music provided ergogenic, psychological and physiological benefits in a laboratory study and its judicious use during triathlon training should be considered.QAS Centre of Excellence for Applied Sport Science Researc

Effects of synchronous music on psychological responses, performance indices and physiological functioning among elite triathletes and runners

To date, most studies looking at the effects of music in sport have focused on non-elite populations. The use of synchronous music has demonstrated ergogenic, psychological, and physiological benefits when used as an accompaniment to physical activity. The aim of the present research programme was to extend previous investigations of synchronous music to elite athletes. Study 1 assessed the benefits of synchronous music during submaximal and exhaustive treadmill running among elite triathletes. Time-to-exhaustion, mood responses, feeling states, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), blood lactate concentration, oxygen consumption, and running economy were measured during three treadmill runs. Participants (n = 11) ran to motivational music using self-selected tracks, a neutral music condition, and a no-music condition. Time-to-exhaustion in the motivational and neutral music conditions increased by 18.1% and 19.7%, respectively, compared to the no-music condition. Other measures that indicated a benefit of music over no music included RPE (lowest in neutral music condition), blood lactate (lowest in motivational music) and oxygen consumption (lower by 1.0%-2.7%). In Study 2, the software necessary to conduct similar testing outdoors using Apple iPhones was developed. Six iPhones were programmed to gather GPS, cadence, RPE, Feeling Scale and BRUMS data, and were evaluated by two experienced runners. Study 3 investigated the benefits of music on training effectiveness. Participants were elite triathletes (n = 2) and elite runners (n = 6) who used iPhones while running to a synchronous music condition, a music-led condition, and a no-music condition. Both music conditions were associated with greater distances covered, lower RPE, and more positive feelings and mood responses. Results suggest that the judicious use of music can potentially provide significant benefits to elite athletes during training activities

Chase that feeling: recent developments in music and sport research

This presentation summarises a series of three studies in the area of music and sport