Music makes your workout better

Paul Kochoa, PT, DPT, OCS, CKTP, CGFI

The New York Times posted an article last week regarding music and your workout.  A study out of Canada found that listening to music made strenuous exercise more effective.  In particular, this is in relation to a new trend of high intensity interval training.

If you haven’t heard, high intensity interval training or HIIT, is a short duration workout that is very draining and hard with intervals of rest in between bouts of hard work.  Previous studies have found that it’s more beneficial and efficient than just a long boring run or bike ride.  It’s more bang for your buck.

The problem is trying to exercise at such a high intensity.  The amount of exertion is sometimes very nauseous and draining, which can make HIIT a less enjoyable experience than the traditional cardiovascular endurance training.

The study found that listening to music didn’t make it any easier, but did allow the subjects to produce more force and perform at higher levels than previous workouts without music.  The researchers hypothesized that the music allowed the subjects to “mute” the noxious stimuli of muscle aches and pain that was caused by the HIIT workouts.  The intensity can increase, but not the discomfort.

The amount of energy that you expend during a HIIT workout is an important part of its effectiveness.  You can get a lot of gain, in very little time.  But you have to be able to endure it and work through it.  Listening to music can make that happen.

If you would like more information, please call Professional Physical Therapy and Training at 973-270-7417.  Our offices are located within the YMCA locations in Madison and Summit, NJ.  You do not need to be a member of the YMCA to visit us.