Unsurprising scientific research has confirmed that listening to upbeat music whilst exercising can make it less tough, even for people who don’t work out regularly.
A study from the University of British Columbia (Okanagan campus) examined the way in which the right music may assist less-active people get more out of their workout, and get more involved with sporting activities such as HIIT.
Science has confirmed that ‘insufficiently active’ people may benefit from playing upbeat music whilst exercising, making it easier and more fun.
Focusing on high-intensity interval training, (HIIT) – repeated stints of intense exercise that are proven to have positive health effects – the researchers were eager to find a way to get insufficiently active people interested in undertaking HIIT activities.
A group of 24 insufficiently active people participated in the so-called ‘one minute’ workouts, whereby they had three 20 second all-out sprints which were repeated between short rests. The participants undertook this multiple times, adhering to different conditions; with motivational music, no audio or a podcast without music.
Participants reported greater enjoyment of the exercise with motivational music as well as elevated heart rates, which came as a surprise to researchers.
Matthew Stork, one of the researchers said:
“Music is typically used as a dissociative strategy. This means that it can draw your attention away from the body’s physiological responses to exercise such as increased heart rate or sore muscles,”but with high-intensity exercise, it seems that music is most effective when it has a fast tempo and is highly motivational.”
So there you go, music is the gift that keeps on giving. Especially if you’re lazy.
