Quizsided

Your Music Playlist Might Be the Key to Becoming a Better Athlete

Athletes are always looking for methods to better themselves. They are constantly on the lookout for new ways to get an advantage so that they may improve their performance. To this end, many claim that listening to music while working out at the gym is helpful. When it comes down to it, though, does music boost or impair performance?

NFC Divisional Playoffs - Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Detroit Lions
NFC Divisional Playoffs - Tampa Bay Buccaneers v Detroit Lions / Kevin Sabitus/GettyImages

Many well-known sportsmen have been documented employing music to improve their game, lending credibility to the studies above. For example, American swimmer Michael Phelps, who won seven gold medals and five world records at the 2007 FINA World Championships, is said to have listened to hip-hop before each of his events to help him concentrate and get in the zone. The effects of music vary widely, from energizing to relaxing. It has been shown to elevate mood, sharpen motor control, and assist the brain in forming important motor memories. Now, let’s dig deeper, as this argument has two sides.

The Plus Side of Music

1. Matters of the Heart

Listening to music during exercise has been demonstrated to boost endurance by 15% and decrease perceived effort by 12%. However, examining the music's pace is crucial since a new analysis from Liverpool John Moores University reveals more detailed conclusions.

According to their research, reducing the music tempo had a negative effect on participants' heart rates and the distance they rode their bikes while increasing the pace had a positive effect on participants' heart rates, mileage, and pleasure of the music and the exercise.

2. It Drives Away Bad Thoughts

Athletes perform better when listening to music because it helps them forget the stresses and doubts that might get in the way of their game. New studies have shown that listening to uplifting music can help relieve the stress and anxiety associated with playing in front of an audience, allowing even the most nervous athletes to perform better on the court.

3. Autopilot Mode is Always Better

Music has a hypnotic effect on athletes, causing them to perform routine tasks without consciously registering their performance. Recent research indicated that the success percentage of professional golfers increased when they were instructed to take a putt as rapidly as possible compared to when they dilly-dallied on the golf course. When an athlete is able to function on autopilot, even under intense pressure, their minds and bodies are free to focus solely on the task at hand.

4. An Easier Grasp at Emotional Control

Believe it or not, Alicia Keys' soothing ballads were part of Olympic athlete Dame Kelly Holmes's pre-event ritual in 2004. This helped calm Holmes down and put her at her musical and athletic best. On the other hand, the great Michael Phelps listened to Lil Wayne and Eminem to get fired up and focused. Who would have thought that these tunes were vital to these Olympiads’ success?

Unveiling the Common Disadvantages

  • Distraction is the Main Enemy

Music may be a distraction when running, which is why many top runners opt not to listen to it. Athletes in this situation want to tune in to their bodies so they can control their processes and run at an optimal tempo. They, too, must be aware of and attentive to their surroundings in order to react to and exploit any opportunities presented by the competition.

  • Misconception Can Sometimes Happen

Maybe it's not music listening itself that helps performance, but rather the expectation that it will. When asked if they listened to music before or during a task, participants in the former group were told it would improve their performance, while those in the latter group were told it would have the opposite effect. The study participants who were told the music would help them perform better ran more laps than those who were told the opposite.

Other studies have found that rather than improving performance, music actually makes people more willing to take risks. Taking measured risks appropriate for the athlete's ability level can help them enhance their performance by allowing them to try new and perhaps more effective techniques.

  • It Doesn’t Motivate Anyone 

While listening to music during the warmup has been shown to increase the mood of handball participants, studies have shown that it has little effect on their motivation. The performance of top swimmers was not improved by listening to encouraging music, according to separate research.

The question of whether music enhances athletic performance is still unresolved by the available evidence. The answer to the question of whether music improves performance may depend on the athletes' skills, the genres of music they listen to, and their baseline levels of motivation. At the end of the day, it would depend on one’s preference, too. Music or no music, go with whatever floats your boat.