Insights from the Editor
What's on Your Playlist?
Whether you prefer Shakira or Springsteen to serenade you while you work out, you know that music can make exercise more enjoyable. But if you choose the right music - and that's the key - you may also be able to boost your performance.
Yes, there are scientists who study such things, and Dr. Costas Karageorghis of Brunel University in London is among them. In his latest study, he asked 30 volunteers to listen to specially-selected music while they exercised on a treadmill. His finding: Their physical endurance increased by an average of 15%.
The key to the right music is the number of beats per minute (BPM). For maximum performance, Karageorghis recommends tunes with 120 to 140 BPM. Songs at the lower end of this range are appropriate for moderate activities such as walking, while those at the upper end are best suited for more intense forms of exercise.
Wondering how many BPMs your favorite Snoop Dogg ditty has? Here's a cool tool that helps you figure it out. Or check out Jogtunes.com. Created by a physician who's a runner, the site lists BPMs for a wide array of music and has downloadable mixes for various types of activities. Runner's World also features recommended playlists for warming up, running, doing yoga, and lifting weights.
So what does Karageorghis suggest? According to his research, "The Heat is On" by Glenn Frey is particularly effective for intense workouts. I'm not so sure, though. I think I'll stick with the Beach Boys.
About the Author
Robert J. Davis, PhD is President and Editor-in-Chief of Everwell.
An award-winning health journalist whose work has appeared on CNN, PBS, WebMD and in The Wall Street Journal, he is the author of The Healthy Skeptic: Cutting Through the Hype About Your Health. He also teaches at Emory University’s Rollins School of Public Health.
Davis holds a PhD in health policy from Brandeis University, where he was a Pew Fellow, a master’s degree in public health from Emory, and an undergraduate degree from Princeton University.
