A study of the effect of relaxing music on heart rate recovery after exercise among healthy students.
BACKGROUND
Music has been employed in various clinical settings to reduce anxiety. However, meta-analysis has shown music to have little influence on haemodynamic parameters. This study aimed at investigating the effect of relaxing music on heart rate recovery after exercise.


METHODS
Twenty-three student volunteers underwent treadmill exercise and were assessed for heart rate recovery and saliva analysis; comparing exposure to sedative music with exposure to silence during the recovery period immediately following exercise.


RESULTS
No differences were found between music and non-music exposure regarding: heart rate recovery, resting pulse rate, and salivary cortisol. Music was no different to silence in affecting these physiological measures, which are all associated with anxiety.


CONCLUSIONS
Relaxing music unaccompanied by meditation techniques or other such interventions may not have a major role in reducing anxiety in certain experimental settings.
PAPRSB Institute of Health Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong BE1410, Brunei Darussalam.
Fuitze
F
Tan
PAPRSB Institute of Health Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong BE1410, Brunei Darussalam.
Asrin
A
Tengah
PAPRSB Institute of Health Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong BE1410, Brunei Darussalam.
Lo Yah
LY
Nee
PAPRSB Institute of Health Science, Universiti Brunei Darussalam, Jalan Tungku Link, Gadong BE1410, Brunei Darussalam. Electronic address: salim.fredericks@ubd.edu.bn.
Salim
S
Fredericks
D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D005260:Female; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000378:metabolism; D008297:Male; D009147:Music Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012064:Relaxation Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D012463:Saliva / Q000378:metabolism; D013334:Students; D014495:Universities
D006854:Hydrocortisone
Cortisol; Heart rate recovery; Music therapy; Saliva