The study involved recreationally active adults engaging in high-intensity cycling while listening to personally selected music. Most tracks were within the tempo range of approximately 120 to 140 beats per minute. Participants were able to continue running for nearly six more minutes before exhaustion compared to those who exercised in silence.
Endurance increased by nearly 20%, highlighting a simple strategy that benefits both athletes and regular exercisers.
The study involved recreationally active adults doing high-intensity cycling while listening to personally selected music. Most tracks were within the tempo range of approximately 120 to 140 beats per minute. Participants were able to continue running for nearly six more minutes before exhaustion compared to those who exercised in silence.
The findings were published in an online journal Psychology of sport and exercise. Andrew Danso, principal investigator at the JYU Music, Mind, Body and Brain Center of Excellence, said the results could have practical value for people looking to improve athletic performance or stick to a training routine.
“Self-selected music won’t change your fitness level or make your heart work dramatically harder in the moment; it just makes your sustained efforts more bearable for longer. This could be an incredibly simple and inexpensive tool that allows people to push their workouts further without feeling extra strained at the end. Our findings suggest that the right playlist can make tough sessions feel more doable and enjoyable.”
music and exercise endurance
The study involved 29 adults who completed two separate cycling tests at the same high intensity level (approximately 80% of peak power). One training session was conducted in silence, and the other session allowed participants to listen to their favorite music.
While listening to music, participants cycled for an average of 35.6 minutes. Without music, the average time decreased to 29.8 minutes. Researchers say the difference is a clear 20% improvement in endurance.
Despite exercising longer and expending more energy overall, participants had similar heart rates and lactate levels at the end of both tests. This suggests that the music did not reduce the physical demands of the workout itself. Rather, it appears that participants learned to tolerate discomfort for longer periods of time.
The researchers noted that this music allowed exercise participants to stay in what they called the “pain zone” for longer without increasing the difficulty of the exercise.
Why your favorite music improves your training
Danso said the findings could have important real-world applications for athletes, coaches and people trying to stay physically active.
“Many people have a hard time continuing to train hard because they get tired quickly,” says Danso.
“Our research shows that by letting people choose their own motivational music, they may accumulate more quality training time, which could lead to improved fitness, better adherence to exercise programs, and perhaps more people staying active.”
The researchers also said the results could have far-reaching implications for public health. If music makes it easier for people to tolerate exercise and help them stay active for longer, it could potentially reduce some of the health risks associated with decreased fitness and physical inactivity.
This publication is open access and currently available at: Psychology of sport and exercise.
The study was carried out in collaboration with the University of Jyväskylä’s Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, the Finnish Institute for High Performance Sports (KIHU) and the University of Springfield.
