The effect of music on mood, motivation, and exercise among patients in a cardiac rehabilitation program: A pilot study

Effectiveness of a home-based music-paced physical activity programme on exercise-related outcomes after cardiac rehabilitation: a randomized controlled trial

AIMS

A randomized controlled trial was conducted to examine the effects of a home-based music-paced physical activity programme guided by Information-Motivation-Strategy (IMS) model and Self-determination theory on exercise-related outcomes for patients with coronary heart disease (CHD) after cardiac rehabilitation (CR).

METHODS AND RESULTS

A total of 130 patients with CHD from a regional CR centre in Hong Kong were recruited and randomly allocated into intervention (n = 65) or control groups (n = 65). The intervention group received theory-guided practical sessions on performing prescribed home-based physical activity with individualized synchronized music, and follow-up telephone calls. The primary outcome was exercise capacity. Secondary outcomes included exercise self-efficacy, physical activity level, and exercise self-determination. Data were collected at baseline, 3 months, and 6 months after study entry. The generalized estimating equations model was used to assess the intervention effects. Patients with CHD in the intervention group demonstrated significantly greater improvements in exercise capacity at 3 months [β = 35.68, 95% confidence interval (CI) 2.69-68.68, P = 0.034] and significantly improved exercise self-efficacy at 6 months (β = 3.72, 95% CI 0.11-7.32, P = 0.043) when compared with the control group. However, no significant group differences were found in physical activity level and exercise self-determination.

CONCLUSION

The study findings provide evidence on an innovation on improving the exercise capacity and exercise self-efficacy of patients with CHD. The music-paced physical activity guided by the IMS model and Self-determination theory requires further investigation on its long-term effects in future studies.

CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRATION

ChiCTR-IOR-17011015.

A Randomized Cross-Over Analysis of the 6-Minute Step Test When Administered in Different Music Listening Conditions to Healthy Young Adults

The 6-Minute Step Test (6-MST) is a simple, inexpensive field test that is increasingly used to evaluate cardiorespiratory fitness. Whether sufficient performance is revealed by this test and the effect on it of motivational factors such as music is unknown. In this cross-sectional, randomized, and crossover research design, we aimed to analyze 6-MST performance and test outcomes in different music-related auditory conditions of non-musical/non-rhythmic [NM/NR], musical/non-rhythmic [M/NR], and musical/rhythmic [M/R]). We had 38 healthy young adults (M age = 21.21, SD = 1.21 years; 60% male) complete all tests, and we measured their number of steps taken, heart rate, blood pressure, respiratory rate, peripheral oxygen saturation, perceived dyspnea, and fatigue on the modified Borg scale. We recorded individually calculated submaximal values according to heart rate reached after three tests. The number of steps increased in the M/R condition relative to other conditions (p = 0.003), and the amount of change in perceived leg fatigue was also higher in the M/R condition (p < 0.017). Despite variable test performances in different auditory conditions, we found no statistically significant difference in cardiovascular fitness and symptoms (p > 0.05). We concluded that the 6-MST is a useful tool for assessing maximum cardiac tolerance, especially if administered while listening to rhythmic music.

A systematic review of effects of recorded music listening during exercise on physical activity adherence and health outcomes in patients with coronary heart disease

BACKGROUND

Exercise training is a key facet of cardiac rehabilitation and is associated with irrefutable benefits for individuals with coronary heart disease. However, compliance with and adherence to such interventions are challenging among this population. The incorporation of music into exercise training may be a potential approach to address this issue.

OBJECTIVES

This study aimed to evaluate the effects of recorded music listening during exercise on adherence to physical activity and health outcomes in individuals with coronary heart disease.

METHODS

A systematic review was conducted by searching 7 English databases for reports of randomized controlled trials and quasi-experimental studies evaluating the effects of recorded music listening during exercise on adherence to physical activity and physical, psychological, and cognitive outcomes in adults with coronary heart disease. Two reviewers independently screened records for eligibility, extracted data, and assessed the quality of reports by using the Effective Public Health Practice Project Quality Assessment Tool tool.

RESULTS

We identified 7 studies involving 293 participants (mean age 62.6 to 72 years, men: 57% to 80%). All but one study included relatively small samples (17 to 56). The overall quality was weak for 3 studies, moderate for 2, and strong for 2. Several reviewed studies showed significant effects of music on attendance at exercise-based cardiac rehabilitation (1 of 2 studies), maintenance of physical activity after intervention (1 study), perceived exertion (2 of 3 studies), exercise capacity (1 of 3 studies), heart rate during exercise (1 of 2 studies), male waist circumference (1 of 2 studies), mood (2 of 3 studies), and cognitive function (1 study) as compared with controls.

CONCLUSIONS

This review provides relatively limited evidence for the potential benefits of recorded music listening during exercise in individuals with coronary heart disease. The findings should be carefully interpreted and generalised. Further rigorous-designed research addressing the limitations of current literature is needed.

Feasibility and concurrent validity of a cardiorespiratory fitness test based on the adaptation of the original 20 m shuttle run: The 20 m shuttle run with music

The purpose was to examine the feasibility of the 20m shuttle run test with music and to test its concurrent validity with the original 20m shuttle run test. A total of 386 adolescents (14.5±1.6 years old, 48.9% boys) participated in our study. A self-reported questionnaire was used to assess student's perception about the 20m shuttle run test with music and the original and to assess perceived exertion. Participants performed randomly the 20m shuttle run test with music and original two weeks apart. Average and maximum heart rate were monitored with heart rate monitors. The 20m shuttle run with music was a feasible test for measuring cardiorespiratory fitness in adolescents. The concurrent validity showed mean differences of 5.1±14.6 for shuttles, 0.3±0.8 km/h for speed, 0.5±4.1 for stages, and 1.5±4.1 for VO2max (all p<0.001) in favour of the 20m shuttle run with music vs. the original 20m shuttle run test. Mean difference for the rating of perceived exertion was 0.4±2.5 points (p=0.003). No significant difference was found between boys and girls. In conclusion, the 20mSRT-music is feasible and presents a good concurrent validity in adolescents, independently of the sex and it will be an alternative and good approach to assess cardiorespiratory fitness.