Science Practical Report – Porsche Tantibhaedhyangkul

Does music impact fitness performance?

Introduction:

In this practical report, the subject of this experiment is; ‘Does music impact fitness performance?’. The
chosen music of choice is pop. The choice for the chosen fitness exercise is the plank. Studies show that
music with higher tempo shows moderate improvement to fitness and exercise. This can either be
showed in forms of, increased distance traveled, pace, and repetitions completed. This study was
completed by Jenny Markell from the National Center for Health Research.

However, this was not the only study that explored the possibility that music impacted fitness
performance. According to this study by Avinash E Thakare, Ranjeeta Mehrotra, and Ayushi Singh,
published by the National Library of Medicine. In this study 25 young males and 25 young females were
instructed to exercise while listening to and without music at various tempos.

It was shown that while listening to music, the duration of exercise had increased dramatically.
However, there was no correlation between the heart rate and the music of choice, in varying tempos.
This means that music does not have a direct correlation between the fitness performance done.

Nevertheless, it should be noted that this study did not have a specific type of exercise done. This could
mean that there was no direct correlation between the heart rate of the young adults when in exercise
and listening to and without music, because they were all doing different type of exercise at various
paces.

Aim:

To find if listening to music will improve physical performance in planking measured by the duration of
the plank hold.

Hypothesis:

If the participant listens to pop music while planking, then the duration of the plank hold will be longer
compared to participants who did not listen to music while planking.

Variables:

Independent Variable Dependent Variable Controlled Variable

Music On/Off Length of Plank Type of Exercise
Participant
Music Genre
The amount of time resting
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Methodology:

1. Participants got ready and prepared the surrounding planking area to do planks.
2. Participants performed planks with no music for their longest possible duration.
3. Times are recorded in regards of planks for all participants.
4. Participants took a 5-minute break to prepare for the next set of planks, this helps subjects
recover stamina and energy. Timing may be off for some rests.
5. Participants performed planks while listening to pop music from the music playlist.
6. Participants took a 5-minute break for the next set of planks.
7. Repeat step 2-6 for more accurate data results.
8. Participants noted all results in graphs and tables.

If any replication of this study were to occur. It is to be noted that after the second planking test, sets of
cushion-like mats were placed under the participants to avoid any injury that may occur during the
planking tests to ensure none of the results were skewed. This should be replicated for any following
study as it ensures consistency and avoids and injury that may happen.

Results:

Average Planking Time Results

2.5
Planking Times (Minutes)

1.5

0.5

0
Participant 1 Participant 2 Participant 3 Participant 4 Participant 5 Participant 6
Participant Number

No Music Music

Participant Test 1 (No Test 2 Test 3 (No Test 4 Average (No Average Average
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Number Music) (Music) Music) (Music) Music) (Music) (Total)

Participant 1:16 1:31 0:50 1:00 1:03 1:15 1:09

1

Participant 1:33 1:55 1:23 1:30 1:28 1:42 1:35

2

Participant 1:38 1:46 1:50 2:00 1:44 1:53 1:48

3

Participant 1:50 1:39 1:30 1:30 1:40 1:34 1:37

4

Participant 1:53 2:01 2:00 2:30 1:56 2:15 2:06

5

Participant 3:10 2:01 1:36 2:10 2:23 2:05 2:14

6

The experiment went smoothly, and all participants were able to conduct the experiment without issue.
However, participants were not able to hold the plank for longer than a whole song. This makes the
chosen song an independent variable. Some planning was misconducted in the experiment. The playlist
and songs were not considered in the experiment. The amount of time spent resting might have also
impacted the results, there were varying amounts of time, and they were not all measured equally.

Discussion:

The hypothesis was supported. This is shown in the graph, 4 out of 6 participants show longer plank
durations while listening to music compared to when they did not listen to music. This is because when
the participants listen to music, it made them less stress and therefore had a longer plank hold. This is
further supported by the studies shown in the introduction. Both studies founded that listening to music
extended the plank time for most of the subjects.

The results had low precision, while participants one, two, three, and four were grouped together,
participants five and six had a much longer plank hold time while listening to and without music. As seen
in the graph with large spikes with participant five and six. For example, participant six had a time of
3:10 for the first no music test but then achieved a time of 1:36 for the second no music test. This is
highly imprecise as we expect the participant to achieve similar times for the exact same experiment.
These outliers can be a byproduct of varying skill level within the group of participants.

The results were not accurate. The expected planking durations for teenagers in the age of 14 is on
average 10-50 seconds. All participants had a longer total average then 50 seconds. The lowest time
recorded during this experiment was 50 seconds, the closest result to the expected outcome. The
highest recorded time was 3:10 minutes, a significant margin higher than the highest expected result.
This contributes to the experiments total average across the different participants.
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Evaluation Table:

Type of Error Source Evidence Impact Improvement

Random Use of media for During the Plank times could Restrict use of
some participants experiment, there have been longer or media and devices.
during planks. can be some shorter because of
participants seen the use of media.
using media.
Random Cushioning in the Participants decided Participants may get Either start on a
third and fourth to use cushions in longer or shorter different surface or
test. third and fourth times and are more decide whether to
test. varied. use or not to use a
cushion before
experiment.
Random Fatigue over the Over the different The results could be Have better rest
different tests. plank results some skewed slightly as a times and
participants results byproduct of this equipment.
dropped miscalculation.
dramatically after
the first and second
tests.
Systematic Varying rests times. The rest times were Participants could Calculate the rest
roughly estimated experience fatigue times better and
and varied and planking results measure them
throughout the could be impacted accurately.
tests. as a result.
Conclusion:

In this experiment, the hypothesis was supported. When the participant listened to music, the duration
of the plank is generally longer than participants who planked in silence. The report has concluded that
music does improve physical performance in planking. When the user listens to music, it helps reduces
stress and heart rate. This makes it so the heart doesn’t have to constantly pump blood causing the
participant to have more endurance and energy.

There were multiple random errors and a systematic error with this experiment. The random errors
caused by miscalculation and human error affected the results and precision of the experiment. The
systematic error caused us to have different times and caused the results to be varied and affected the
precision and accuracy. However, even with these random and systematic errors, the experiment still
concluded that music improves the physical performance and duration of the plank.

References:

Markell, J. (2020, July 21). Can listening to music improve your workout? National Center for Health Research.
Retrieved April 5, 2023, from https://www.center4research.org/can-listening-music-improve-workout/

Thakare, A. E., Mehrotra, R., & Singh, A. (2017, April 15). Effect of music tempo on exercise performance and
heart rate among young adults. International journal of physiology, pathophysiology and pharmacology.
Retrieved April 5, 2023, from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5435671/
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