Music can lower subjective effort ratings during an exercise task at submaximal intensity. Music serves as a diversion from the effort and discomfort of the exercise task. As intensity of the exercise task increases and the attention to task shifts inward for the individual, music may be less effective as a means of dissociation from the effort.
The purpose of this study was to measure the effect of self-selected motivational music on rating of perceived exertion (RPE) in trained runners in a 1.5 mile maximal intensity running time trial.
Method:
Subjects were trained male and female runners (N = 14), age 19-34 (M = 24.86). Each subject self-selected and rated a motivational song to be used as treatment in the running trial. The time trial was a 1.5 mile course conducted on a paved running trail of an outdoor park. The study was conducted as a repeated-measures crossover design in which the subjects were randomly assigned and ran two trials with and without motivational music. RPE was measured on a scale of 0-10. The results from the data were analyzed using a dependent t test. The alpha level was set at p < 0.05.
Analysis/Results:
The motivational music condition significantly lowered the subjects’ average RPE by 0.5 points from 7.4 for the no music condition to 6.9 for the music condition, t(13) = 2.446, p = 0.029, r = 0.56.
Conclusions:
The average RPE was lower in the motivational music condition. The results of this study may help with the application of music in enduring high intensity exercise, which is essential as the research on the relationship between high intensity exercise and improved health markers continues to emerge.