IMPACT OF MUSIC ON RATING OF PERCEIVED EXERTION DURING LEG ERGOMETRY420

The purpose of this study was to compare the effect of music paced exercise on rating of perceived exertion (RPE) as opposed to metronome paced exercise. The subjects were eight non-musician male college students who were not trained cyclists. The subjects were required to cycle at a pace of 60 rpm for two ten minute bouts of exercise. The first ten minute bout was performed against a resistance of 60% maximal workload and the second ten minute bout was performed at 80% maximal workload. A ten minute rest period was allowed between bouts. The subjects were required to participate in two randomly assigned trials, one with the pace set by a metronome and another with the pace set by music. Subjects indicated their musical preferences and music was selected based upon these preferences and the tempo necessary to match the 60 rpm pace desired. RPE was taken every two minutes using the 15 point Borg scale. A MANOVA with repeated measures was used to analyze the data and indicated significantly lower RPE scores during music trials F(1,15)=11.26,p>0.05 and during the 60% bout F(1,15)=54.96,p>0.05. No significant interaction effect was found between the intensities of exercise and the music and non-music conditions. The results of the current study suggest that music can lower RPE for a given level of work and therefore increase the volume of work one may perform during a given bout.