It can get you through the tough times and push you to new limits - music is a staple part of most people's fitness routine (I've even been known to skip the gym because I forgot my headphones).
The right tunes can help put you in the zone and can even take your mind off the pain of those tougher workouts. But what's the science behind it? Can music really improve your performance in the gym?
Science seems to say yes.
When it comes to the speed of your workout, studies suggest that this can be increased by cranking up the music. A study which examined people walking on a treadmill found that when listening to music with a quick beat, the participants speed increased by 16%. Find stretching a faff? Then download some chilled out beats - music is shown to decrease recovery time so you can bounce back quicker.
Ever found yourself totally and utterly in the zone whilst listening to a certain song? Science can explain that one too. When we listen to music, our brain triggers memories associated with certain songs, often in relation to the context in which we originally heard them (girls - think about that one song that you associate with kicking a lousy ex to the curb - yeah you know what I mean). This allows us to channel these feelings into our workout and even the emotion of the singer, making us feel more motivated and improving our performance.
So if you're looking for a workout boost then download a new playlist - want some inspiration? If you're signed up to Apple Music, you can check out Team MoveGB's favourite workout playlist!
