Is strength training all about that bass, or is there more at play when it comes to tapping into your inner Schwarzenegger?
We’ve all felt the motivational effects of listening to upbeat music while working out. Certain tempos can speed up your running without you even realising, while more hardcore beats can bolster feelings of confidence and strength. But is this all psychological, or can plugging in your workout headphones while lifting weights actually have physical benefits? We turn to the science to find out.
Can music improve muscle output?
A deeper dive into over 40 studies on the topic revealed some surprising results. Analysis found that listening to favourite music tracks during strength training led to significant improvements in strength endurance and maximal strength when compared to non-music listening groups.
More precisely, the number of reps until failure was much higher in the music group than the non-music listening group. While maximal strength measured through speed and force parameters and one rep max were significantly greater on average in those who listened to their favourite tunes.
Then, there’s the psychological benefits. Across the studies, a large consensus began to take shape. Participants reported higher motivation and that workouts felt easier, while they felt a lot more motivated to train and experienced a huge increase in positive mood.
Overall, the psychological and physiological effects of strength training to music have proven to be no less than extraordinary. Granted, listening to music alone won’t magically lead to more muscle – you still need to put the work in. But music (specifically your preferred music tracks) could enhance performance output and the ability to sustain effort, helping you to add more reps to your set or reach that new PB more easily.
Will music give me power?
“Music has a positive effect on athletic performance, by delaying fatigue and increasing work capacity. In the context of resistance training, research also indicates an ergogenic effect of listening to music.” (Latocha, A et al.)
One study found that listening to preferred music while doing bench press resulted in “a significant enhancement in the total number of BP repetitions at 70% one-repetition maximum”. Positive effects aren’t exclusive to certain ages, either as a study of participants aged over 65 revealed. It found that those listening to music during hand grip strength tests produced 0.87kg more force as opposed to doing the same test in silence. Perhaps there’s a case to be made here – maybe we should all be listening to our own inner theme tune for workouts and to get through difficult life moments.
Studies thus far have teased at the overwhelming benefits of music on athletic performance, but more research is needed to confirm and explore these benefits. For instance, there’s a lack of research when it comes to listening to music during lower body multi-joint resistance exercises. Music is also typically banned during competitions, so its effectiveness for athletes at the pointy end of the sport is also yet to be explored.
But if the current science is anything to go by, listening to music while exercising could just be the single most effective mode of enhancing performance in existence today. And good news, it’s also likely one of the cheapest and easiest tools to incorporate into your routine. All you’ll need is a pair of good gym headphones and luckily for you, we’ve already tested the best in the biz.
