Are you getting your exercise? Is it intense? Exhaustive exercise can leave the body and mind needing recovery—a recent study aimed to explore how different types of music impact recovery after strenuous physical activity.
Here’s a summary of the key findings:
Study Design: The research involved 42 participants (21 women and 21 men) who underwent a randomized, fully counterbalanced, crossover design. They performed incremental cycle ergometry until exhaustion and then engaged in a 30-minute passive recovery with either slow, soothing, fast, stimulative, or no music. Remember that this is a very small study, not to discount it, but small studies can sometimes arrive at conclusions that would be different than those of the general population or lead to bias’ .
Core Findings
Active Arousal: Slow, sedative music led to the most significant decline in active arousal between active and passive recovery phases, especially in women. This indicates that such music can effectively calm the mind after intense exercise.
Heart Rate and Cortisol: Fast, stimulative music inhibited the return of heart rate to resting levels, while slow, soothing music was associated with lower salivary cortisol levels, suggesting it helps reduce stress more effectively.
Affect: Participants reported more positive feelings with slow, soothing music than control and fast music conditions.
Key Takeaways
Soothing Music for Recovery: Slow, sedative music can expedite recovery immediately after strenuous exercise, making it a practical and reliable tool for athletes and recreational exercisers to enhance their recovery experience. Its effectiveness is a reassuring factor for those seeking to optimize their recovery.
Music Preference: The study suggests incorporating personal music preferences, especially slow and calming sounds, into post-exercise routines can optimize psychological and physiological recovery. This finding empowers you to take control of your recovery process and tailor it to your unique preferences.
Historical Context: Previous studies have shown that soothing music reduces heart rate, blood pressure, and perceived exertion more effectively than fast music or no music. This study builds on that by highlighting the specific benefits of slow music on both psychological and physiological aspects of your recovery.
Further research is needed to understand the mechanisms behind music’s effects during recovery. They did not explore how different types of music and individual preferences work together to enhance or reduce recovery. There is much more to be discovered.
Whether you’re an athlete or a casual exerciser, listening to the kind of music you like can potentially improve your recovery and overall performance. So don’t stop listening to music when you finish your workout; just slow it down a bit.
If you want to learn more, here is a link to the study: Link to study