The Effects of Music Tempo on Running Pace and Heart Rate

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The Effects of Music Tempo on Running Pace and
Heart Rate

• Conducted by Courtney Hayes

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Introduction

• Hypothesis
• Faster tempo, more motivating, will cause a
  higher HR and faster running pace
• Slower tempo, more calming, will cause a lower HR
  and slower running pace
• Why is this important?
• Marathons have banned music
• Done for safety issues
• Possible performance benefits?
• Nikes pump-up promotions
• Increased use of music in todays culture

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Literature Review

• A 2003 study looked at the effects of music on
  females running at maximal intensity
• Found music increased performance during maximal
  intensity running, but not during sub-max running
• A 2004 study looked at the effect of the music
  type on running perseverance and coping with
  effort sensations
• Found that, although many perceived the music as
  beneficial, there was no actual increase in
  ability to run longer or perform better

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Literature Review

• A 2003 study looked at the effects of music on
  lap pace, heart rate, and RPE during a 20-min
  self-paced run
• No effect on pace
• Effect on RPE and HR seen in untrained group, but
  may be due to source of error problems
• A 2006 study looked at the effects of music
  during exercise on RPE, HR, and the automatic
  nervous system
• Found that, although music did not influence the
  automatic nervous system, listening to music
  during low intensity exercise provokes a
  distraction effect
• Decrease in stress caused by fatigue when
  listening to music, making performing exercise
  more comfortable

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Methods

• Six subjects
• Five males
• One female
• Average age 26 yrs, height 5 10, and weight
  162 lbs
• Experienced runners
• Ranging from 2-17 years of experience
• Average weekly mileage of 15 miles
• Three of the six subjects regularly listen to
  music when they run

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Methods

• Participants were told that they would be
  listening to music and running 1.5 miles, but not
  told the actual purpose of the study
• One lap warm-up
• 1.5 miles (28.5 laps)
• Told to treat the run as a normal training run,
  NOT a race
• Encouraged to listen to the music and not worry
  about laps or pace
• Cued to give HR
• Researcher counted laps, ran stopwatch,
• and recorded HR readings for each subject

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Methods

• St. Paul Jewish Community Center indoor track
• Two separate days
• Same day of week and similar schedule
• MP3 player
• Fast tempo one day, slow tempo other day
• Variety of music selection to meet different
  interests
• HR Monitor
• Total of seven heart rate readings
• Resting, five during, ending
• Stopwatch
• Timed run
• Calculated pace using the time and miles run
• Lap Counter
• Accurate counting of laps
• Minitab to conduct paired t-test of data results

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Results
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Results
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Limitations

• Day-to-day variability in HR and performance
• No control of running without music
• Not a long enough run
• Limited availability of subjects
• Others running on track could cause a distraction
• Personal music interests
• More comfortable during second run trial

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Conclusion

• No significant difference in HR or running pace
  between slow music and fast music trials
• Performance benefits?
• Allows for disassociation
• Less boredom
• Ignore physical fatigue
• Motivation
• Follows current research
• results

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References

• Kirby, AM., Murphy, RJL. (2003). Ergogenic
  effects of music in females running at maximal
  intensity. Canadian Journal of Applied
  Physiology, 28, S72.
• Matesic, BC., Cromartie, F. (2002) Effects music
  has on lap pace, heart rate, and perceived
  exertion rate during a 20 min self-paced run.
  Sport Journal, 5(1).
• Tenenbaum, G., Lidork. (2004, April). The effect
  of music type on running perseverance and coping
  with effort sensations. Psychology of Sport and
  Exercise, 5(2), 89-109.
• Yamashita, S., Iwai, K., Akimoto, T. (2006,
  September). Effects of music during exercise on
  RPE, HR, and the automatic nervous system.
  Journal of Sports Medicine and Physical Fitness
  46(3), 425-30.

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Acknowledgements

• Thanks to.
• The participants for taking the time to be in the
  study
• Dr. Carey for advising
• Dann for presenting for me