The effect of music on 10 km cycle time trial performance

Autores:

Hagen J, Foster C, Rodríguez-Marroyo J, de Koning JJ, Mikat RP, Hendrix CR, Porcari JP

Department of Exercise and Sport Science, University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, La Crosse, WI, USA

Music is widely used as an ergogenic aid in sport, however there is little evidence of its’ effectiveness during closed-loop athletic events.

In order to determine the effectiveness of music as an ergogenic aid, well-trained and task habituated cyclists performed 10km cycle time trials while either listening to self-selected motivational music or with auditory input blocked.

There were no statistically significant differences in performance time or physiological/psychological markers related to music (time trial duration:17.75+2.10 vs 17.81+2.06 min, mean power output: 222+66 vs 220+65 W, peak HR:184+9 vs 183+8 bpm, peak blood lactate:12.1+2.6 vs 11.9+2.1 mmol•l-1, and final RPE: 8.4+1.5 vs 8.5+1.6, respectively).

It is concluded, that during exercise at competitive intensity, there is no meaningful effect of music on either performance or physiology.