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Listening to music while running alters ground reaction forces: a study of acute exposure to varying speed and loudness levels in young women and men

European Journal of Applied Physiology volume 120, pages 1391–1401 (2020)Cite this article

Abstract

Purpose

Music listening while running enhances physiological and psychological features, resulting in a more enjoyable experience. The possible influence of music on ground reaction forces (GRF) during running, however, is unknown. Considering the ‘distracting’ role of music on runner’s attention, we hypothesized that music would cover foot impacts against the ground. This study verified such hypothesis by testing the effects of different music volumes while running at different velocities.

Methods

Fifty fit volunteers (F:M = 22:8; 23 ± 2 years) performed 2-min running stints over 3 random conditions (80-dB, 85-dB music; ‘no music’), at 3 velocities (8, 10, 12 km/h). Participants ran on a sensorized treadmill that recorded GRF during all experiments.

Results

Listening to 85-dB music resulted in greater GRF at 8 (p = 0.0005) and 10 km/h (p = 0.04) but not 12 km/h (p = 0.35) and not with 80-dB volume. Gender-based analyses revealed significant Condition × gender interactions only for 85-dB music vs. ‘no music’. Bonferroni-adjusted comparisons revealed significant music-induced increases in GRF only in men at 8 km/h (+ 4.1 kg/cm2, p < 0.0005; women: + 0.8 kg/cm2, p = 0.47) and 10 km/h (+ 3.3 kg/cm2, p = 0.004; women: + 0.8 kg/cm2, p = 0.51) but not at 12 km/h.

Conclusion

In active men, listening to loud music while running results in increased GRF, whereas no effect was observed in women. The lack of music effect in women may be related to structural factors, such as larger hip width-to-femoral length ratio, possibly resulting in different loading patterns. The present preliminary findings introduce high-volume music listening as a new potential risk factor for injury in young runners.

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Fig. 1
Fig. 2

Abbreviations

ANOVA:

Analysis of variance

COP:

Center of pressure

dB:

Decibel

HL:

Hearing level

GRFv:

Vertical ground reaction force

IPAQ:

International Physical Activity Questionnaire

MET:

Metabolic equivalent

Q-angle:

Quadriceps muscle angle

SPL:

Sound pressure level

SD:

Standard deviation

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Acknowledgements

We are grateful to Dr. Andrea Cereatti and Prof. Marcello Caria for critically revising the manuscript, to Drs. Antonello Catogno (BSc audiometry), Mario Russo (BSc audiometry) and Mr. Gavino Ruggiu for their technical assistance.

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Author notes

  1. Andrea Manca and Lucia Cugusi have equally contributed to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Biomedical Sciences, University of Sassari, Viale S. Pietro 43/b, 07100, Sassari, Italy

    Andrea Manca, Lucia Cugusi & Franca Deriu

  2. Esercizio Vita Medical Fitness, Ferrara, Italy

    Luca Pomidori, Michele Felisatti, Giorgio Altavilla, Eleonora Zocca & Martina Zocca

  3. Department of Medical, Surgical and Experimental Sciences, University of Sassari, Sassari, Italy

    Francesco Bussu

  4. Department of Physical Therapy, Sackler Faculty of Medicine, Tel Aviv University, Tel Aviv, Israel

    Zeevi Dvir

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  1. Andrea Manca
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Contributions

AM: conception and design of the work; interpretation of data; drafting the work; final approval of the version to be published; agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work; LC: conception and design of the work; interpretation of data; drafting the work; final approval of the version to be published; LP: data analysis; interpretation of data for the work; final approval of the version to be published; MF: data analysis; Interpretation of data for the work; final approval of the version to be published; GA: acquisition; final approval of the version to be published; EZ: acquisition; final approval of the version to be published; MZ: acquisition; final approval of the version to be published; FB: interpretation of data for the work; revising the work critically for important intellectual content; final approval of the version to be published; ZD: interpretation of data for the work; drafting the work and revising it critically for important intellectual content; final approval of the version to be published; FD: conception and design of the work; interpretation of data; drafting the work; final approval of the version to be published; agreement to be accountable for all aspects of the work.

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Correspondence to Franca Deriu.

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Communicated by Peter Krustrup.

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Manca, A., Cugusi, L., Pomidori, L. et al. Listening to music while running alters ground reaction forces: a study of acute exposure to varying speed and loudness levels in young women and men. Eur J Appl Physiol 120, 1391–1401 (2020). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-020-04371-z

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Keywords

  • Music
  • Running
  • Ground reaction force
  • Gender differences