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A study out of the University of Toronto has confirmed what many have suspected for a while. The right playlist can motivate you to exercise longer and more often.
Most runners rely on a great playlist to motivate them and new research suggests it may be the key to exercise success. Cardiologist Dr. David Alter, just wrapped up a study showing heart patients whose rehab routine included music were more likely to stick to it. “The weekly activity levels and exercise levels was about two fold or 200 minutes more per week of exercise over a 3 month period.” They exercised longer and more often than patients who didn’t listen to music.
Alter and his team created playlists that matched their musical interests and walking pace. Some participants were even given music that was enhanced to accentuate tempo, those patients performed the best of all. Of course, not everyone can re-master their music, but you can find a beat that suits your speed. You can search for songs that match your tempo online, or even download an app that measures beats per minute as you run and adjusts your playlist accordingly.
Dr. Alter believes syncing up makes walking and running seem like less effort. “When we listen to a beat, it actually causes some wave oscillations in our brain in sync. Which then causes us to move in sync.”
Our bodies feel less exerted and our minds feel more motivated. So next time you hit the gym, don’t leave your headphones behind.
