Quick pre-workout tweak could improve your endurance by 20%, study finds

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Listening to your favorite musicduring a workoutcould help you exercise longer without feeling more exhausted, according to new research.

Researchers at the University of Jyväskylä in Finland found that people who selected their own music were able to extend their endurance by nearly 20% during high-intensity exercise.

The findings were published in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise.

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The study included 29 recreationally active adults who completed two identical cycling sessions at about 80% of their peak effort.

Man listening to music while working out on an exercise bicycle

A study found that choosing your own music can boost endurance by nearly 20% during intense exercise.(iStock)

One session was done in silence, while the other allowed participants to listen to music they chose themselves.

Those listening to music lasted nearly six minutes longer on average, exercising for about 36 minutes compared to roughly 30 minutes without it.

heart rateand other physical markers remained similar, indicating that the body was working just as hard in both conditions.

Researchers said the difference appears to come from how people perceive effort rather than any change in physical ability.

Young athletic woman wiping sweat from her brow during treadmill workout in gym

People who listened to music worked out for about 36 minutes on average, about six minutes longer than the 30 minutes without music.(iStock)

“Self-selected music doesn’t changeyour fitness level… it simply helps you tolerate sustained effort for longer,” lead researcher Andrew Danso said.

translate to better fitness gains, improved adherence to exercise [programs], and possibly more people staying active,” Danso added.

Outside experts agreed that the benefit likely comes from ashift in mindset.

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“People who exercise with music they enjoy are able to exercise longer because it changes their mindset,�

A small group of mature adults sitting on stationary bikes in a fitness class.

Choosing your own motivating music may help you train longer and more effectively, improving fitness and making it easier to stick with exercise.(iStock)

“Instead of thinking of exercise as a chore, it feels like something they are choosing to do and becomes fun,” she added.

However, the study does have some limitations.Researchers noted the relatively small sample size of 29 participants and the fact that all were physically active adults, which may limit how broadly the findings apply to other groups.

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The exercise sessions also focused on aspecific type of high-intensity cycling, so results may vary with different workouts.