Effects of music on exercise and perceived symptoms in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease.
BACKGROUND
The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of music on exercise tolerance and perceived symptoms during treadmill walking in patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).


METHODS
Nineteen patients with COPD recruited from a pulmonary rehabilitation program participated in treadmill walking sessions on three separate days. The first session consisted of a practice walk. The second and third walking sessions were 6-minute timed tests in which the subjects were asked to walk as fast as possible under two conditions: a control walk and a music walk. Subjective assessments of perceived dyspnea and effort were obtained during the walks by the modified Borg scale.


RESULTS
Distances walked were 331m +/- 19 (SE) for the music walk and 321m +/- 21 (SE) for the control walk (P = .25). Within each condition, ratings of perceived exertion and dyspnea increased from minute 1 to minute 6 (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
There were no statistically significant differences observed between treatment conditions for distance walked, perceived dyspnea or ratings of perceived exertion. It should be noted that 60% of the subjects voluntarily commented that they enjoyed listening to music while they exercised.
Pfister
T
T
Department of Kinesiology and Physical Education at California State University, Hayward, USA.
Berrol
C
C
Caplan
C
C
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D018592:Cross-Over Studies; D005080:Exercise Test; D017079:Exercise Tolerance; D006801:Humans; D008173:Lung Diseases, Obstructive / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009146:Music; D010865:Pilot Projects