Music fuels workouts. It pumps you up and gets you in the "zone" so you can keep the rhythm, stay energized, and boost your performance.
"Music is like a legal drug for athletes," says Dr. Costas Karageorghis, author of Inside Sport Psychology.
Karageorphis did an in-depth look at how music impacts athletes and found that music distracts, creates emotion, causes arousal, and gets people to move to tempo. Here's a breakdown:
• Distract: Music helps take the mind off of the physical activity. • Creates Emotion: A song from your childhood may boost energy because it was something you always listened to while playing in the backyard. Or, a song that played from your first rock concert may boost your spirits. There's a human connection to music that causes an emotional touch. • Causes Arousal: The tendency to move instead of sit. If you hear a song in the background, you might notice your knee bouncing to the rhythm. That's your body wanting to move to the beat. • People Move to Tempo: Take cyclists as an example. To pick up the pedal speed they listen to a fast-paced tempo to help them lift their pedals quickly and in a steady rhythm.
To perform your best while listening to music, a good set of earbuds is a must. Headphones come in so many shapes, sizes, wires, no wires, etc. And prices can range from $15 to $300 or more. It can be a big task to find the right pair for you.
To narrow your search, the Active Gear Scout tested all sorts of noise-canceling headphones. These pieces were put through: marathons, swim sessions, interval strength-trainings, 25-mile bike rides and rigorous stair climbs. Some performed better than others, but overall offer great sound and no-fuss earbuds. Find one that's right for you to help you get in the zone and perform your best.