London - Whether you do it to ease the pain or simply to relieve the monotony, exercising to your favourite tunes can add 19 minutes to the average workout.
A typical gym or jogging session to music will last 58 minutes, compared with just 39 minutes when it’s done in silence, a new study found.
Sportswear firm Sweatband questioned 1 600 adults who exercise regularly. Six out of 10 said they listened to music while working out, with 35 percent saying it “distracted from the pain and intensity”.
Another 28 percent said it “helped to break the monotony” and allowed them to “exercise for longer”.
A total of 27 percent said listening to music meant they increased the number of exercise repetitions they did and a further 22 percent felt they could lift heavier weights with music on in the background.
To assess whether music caused any statistical benefits, the study aimed to discover if it affected the average time people spent exercising, as respondents were asked “How long do you tend to spend working out”.
Dance music was the favourite to work out to, followed by rock, hip-hop, pop and drum and bass.
Among those who did not listen to music during exercise, one in three believed it was anti-social if working out with friends, 27 percent did not want to be distracted and 49 percent were worried about the dangers of traffic when exercising outdoors, such as during running or cycling sessions.
Sweatband’s chief executive Maz Darvish said: ‘We unconsciously pick up our pace to a fast tune, but it also helps pass the time. Just make sure it’s music you enjoy, or you might be adding to the pain.
“Working out, while often enjoyable, is also undeniably hard work. Sometimes it does us good to get an extra edge by listening to our favourite music.
“The majority of people who work out would admit they tend to feel more inspired if helped along by an upbeat rhythm.” – Daily Mail