Listening to music may make even standard exercise, like long-distance running or cycling, an experience as individual as the type of music blaring through an exerciser’s headphones.
Researchers in the school of psychology at Farleigh Dickinson University in New Jersey concluded that people were more likely to engage in aerobic exercise if they were listening to music, according to an article from WebMD Medical News. Aerobic exercise is defined as any activity that uses large muscle groups, can be maintained continuously and is rhythmic in nature, according to the American College of Sports Medicine.
The study included 41 obese or overweight women who participated in the study for 24 weeks.
Researchers randomly gave some of the women portable CD players to listen to their choice of music, and all women had to diet, write down their daily calorie intake and walk at least three times weekly. Women who listened to music lost a greater amount of weight and body fat than those who did not.
The study may not prove that listening to music leads to weight loss, but the science community recognized the study as legitimate. The group of researchers presented their study at the North American Association for the Study of Obesity’s annual meeting in Vancouver, Canada.
Amy Sparrow, assistant director of University Recreation’s healthy lifestyle programs, said most group classes include music because it can vary exercise that could become monotonous.
“In some, music is the driving force,” Sparrow said. “Music correlates to the mission you’re trying to accomplish.”
Sparrow said University Recreation uses differently paced music for various types of exercise.
Sparrow said step classes use music with a range of 123 to 130 beats per minute, floorwork and aerobic classes use music with a slightly higher beat range of 140 to 155 and kickboxing class music has 130 to 145 beats per minute.
Resistance training – a class where exercisers gradually increase weight training – uses music at 110 to 130 beats per minute. Beats per minute for cycling vary because exercisers vary the resistance levels on their exercise bikes.
Sparrow said exercisers have to be careful with the speed of music they use because choosing a music tempo faster than usual can lead to overexertion or injury.
Sparrow said group exercise instructors use music that is premixed, allowing them to teach the class in a logical format while keeping time to the music.
Kayla Prather, University Recreation instructor, said she uses a combination of both upbeat and slow music for her cycling class.
“You can’t spend 45 minutes on a bike without music to keep you interested,” Prather said.
Prather said listening to music helps her students focus and maintain concentration.
“You’re naturally going to find the beat,” Prather said. “You’re going to feel what’s right.”
Jillian Wilkerson, statistics graduate student who is in Prather’s cycling class, said the music motivates her to keep a steady pace while on the bike.
“You get bored easily otherwise,” Wilkerson said.
Contact Leslie Ziober at [email protected]