| This study examined the effects of different tempo music selections on effort-related thoughts, rating of perceived exertion (RPE), affect, heart rate, and performance of isometric strength exercises. Participants were assigned to one of three conditions: silent control, fast tempo music first followed by slow tempo music, and slow tempo music first followed by fast tempo music. Participants performed a baseline test of two different isometric strength exercises and then completed the exercises two additional times under the assigned condition. Measures of HR, RPE, and effort-related thoughts (i.e., attention) were taken throughout each exercise and participants reported their levels of arousal and pleasantness at the end of the three trials. Three-way mixed RM ANOVAs were performed for HR, RPE, and attention to determine differences among the three conditions for 30 and 60 seconds and 30, 60, and 90 seconds of each exercise. A RM ANOVA was performed to test for differences in time until volitional exhaustion among conditions and a one-way ANOVA was performed on each measure of affect. No significant differences were found between conditions during any of the trials for any repeated measures; indicating both the presence of music and music tempo failed to influence HR, RPE, and attention. No differences between conditions in time to exhaustion emerged, indicating that contrary to hypotheses neither the addition of music nor the tempo of music effected time until volitional exhaustion. Lastly, no differences between either music condition and the silent control condition was observed, indicating music was unable to influence emotion affect during exercise. Conclusion: The presence of music nor the tempo of music was able to influence physical or psychological aspects of isometric strength exercise as it has been shown to do in aerobic and other strength-type exercises. |
