Impact of Two Methods of Listening to Music During Exercise on Perceived Exertion and Overall Physical Activity

Georgetown University

Status: Completed

Conditions: Sedentary Lifestyle

Treatments: Behavioral: Active teaching in synchronous listening to music while exercising

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT00804700

2008-316

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of the study is to compare two different methods of listening to music while performing aerobic exercise: synchronous music listening vs. asynchronous music listening. Synchronous music listening while exercising is a learned activity where the participant moves his or her body in synchrony with the beat of the music, similar to dancing or to participating in a group exercise (aerobics) class. Our hypothesis is that synchronous music listening reduces the level of perceived exertion to the exercise and motivates the subject to exercise more often. This study randomly assigns 46 subjects, age 20-55 years old to either a control group of listening to their own favorite music in an asynchronous fashion or to an intervention group of listening to prepared music in a synchronous fashion over a six week period.

Enrollment: 46 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 20 to 55 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion and exclusion criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

• Adult employees of Georgetown University (age 20-55) who listen to music while exercising.

Exclusion Criteria::

• A major medical condition that would prevent the participant from undertaking regular exercise
• The use of beta blocker medication
• Participation in varsity sports

Trial design

Primary purpose: Prevention

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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46 participants in 2 patient groups

Control Group

Active Comparator group

Description:

Subjects will be given a 60 minute lecture on the benefits of regular exercise and how music can enhance the exercise experience. Subjects will be individually instructed how to use the Precor elliptical trainer at the Yates fitness center while listening to music. Subjects are instructed to exercise using the elliptical trainer for periods of 45 -55 minutes at a time as frequently as they like with a minimum frequency of once per week. Subjects will also be encouraged to exercise regularly by walking, jogging or engaging in other forms of physical activity during the intervention period. A fitness attendant will be on hand to supervise their exercise activity, but will not give specific advice how to exercise, other than to make sure they are exercising safely.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Active teaching in synchronous listening to music while exercising

Intervention Arm

Experimental group

Description:

Subjects will be instructed to exercise while listening to four audio tutorials that are stored on their MP-3 player. These tutorials guide the subject on how to synchronize his or her body movements to the beat of the music.

Treatment:

Behavioral: Active teaching in synchronous listening to music while exercising