A favourite workout playlist might do more than pass the time.
Keep-fit fans who listen to self-selected music while exercising work harder and for longer, according to a new study from the University of Jyväskylä in Finland.
Researchers found that choosing upbeat songs boosted endurance by up to 20 percent without making the workout feel tougher. The findings were published in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise.
In the study, 29 recreationally active adults completed two identical high-intensity cycling tests at about 80 percent of their peak power. One test was done in silence. In the other, participants chose their own music, with tracks around 120 to 140 beats per minute.
With music, participants cycled for an average of 35.6 minutes before exhaustion, compared to 29.8 minutes without music, an improvement of 20 percent.
Lead researcher Andrew Danso said: “Self-selected music doesn’t change your fitness level or make your heart work dramatically harder in the moment, it simply helps you tolerate sustained effort for longer.
“It may be an incredibly simple, zero-cost tool that lets people push further in training without feeling extra strain at the end.
“Our findings suggest that the right playlist may make tough sessions feel more doable and more enjoyable.”
Even though participants exercised for longer and burned more total energy with music, their heart rate and lactate levels at the finish were the same in both tests.
Danso said the music helped them “stay in the pain zone” longer without making the pain feel worse.
Danso, from JYU’s Centre of Excellence in Music, Mind, Body and Brain, added: “Many people struggle to stick with hard training because it feels exhausting too quickly.
“Our research shows that letting people choose their own motivating music may help them accumulate more quality training time, which could translate to better fitness gains, improved adherence to exercise programs, and possibly more people staying active.”
He said the study also highlights how music could play a role in tackling inactivity-related health challenges.
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