Does Music Increase One's Physical Endurance?

Did you know that the type of music you are listening to while working out could have an impact on your results?

According to research found by Brunel University strong physical effects have been found when one mixes carefully chosen music with physical exercise. Dr. Costas Karageorghis from Brunel University stated, "If you co-ordinate your efforts with musical tempo or the rhythmic qualities of music then there will be a significant ergogenic or work-enhancing effect."

The research highlighted that if you coordinate your workout to specific musical tempo you can increase your endurance by up to 15 percent. Additionally, new findings state that music can possibly help exercisers feel more positive when they are working out at a very intense rate (even close to physical exhaustion). It was also discovered that the best results happen when someone listens to songs that combine a personal and emotional reaction with a tempo to match a certain exercise.

Did you know that some of the most elite athletes have been using this method for years to help them increase their training? Some examples listed by Brunel University are marathon runners Haile Gebrselassie and Paula Radcliffe.

For fun, if you are interested in learning some of the music / songs some of our Olympic Athletes listen to when they are working out you can visit the Women's Health Magazine article. It lists the 6 Olympians favorite playlists and also additional workout information.

What tempo should you work out to?

120-140 bpm (beats per minute)

How can you find songs that are over 120 bpm?

You can always do a search over the internet of your favorite songs and bmp to see the tempo of your songs.

Hopefully by learning more about how music an make a difference in your long-term health and fitness goals you will be able to add a little more music into your workout.