Effects of Preferred and Nonpreferred Warm-Up Music on Exercise Performance

This study investigated the effects of preferred and non-preferred warm-up music listening conditions on subsequent exercise performance. A total of 12 physically active male and female participants engaged in a crossover, counterbalanced research design in which they completed exercise trials after 3 different warm-up experiences of (a) no music (NM), (b) preferred music (PREF), and (c) nonpreferred music (NON-PREF). Participants began warming up by rowing at 50% of of age-predicted heart rate maximum (HR_max) for 5 minutes while exposed to the three music conditions. Immediately following the warm-up and cessation of any music, participants completed a 2000-m rowing time trial as fast as possible. Relative power output, trial time, heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and motivation were analyzed. Results indicated that, compared with NM, relative power output was significantly higher (p  =  .018), trial time was significantly lower (p  =  .044), and heart rate was significantly higher (p  =  .032) during the PREF but not the NON-PREF condition. Rating of perceived exertion was not altered, regardless of music condition (p > .05). Motivation to exercise was higher during the PREF condition versus the NM (p  =  .001) and NON-PREF (p < .001) conditions. Listening to preferred warm-up music improved subsequent exercise performance compared with no music, while nonpreferred music did not impart ergogenic benefit.