Is it true that your muscles grow more when you train listening to music? 💪🏼
- Rubén Toledo
- Mar 11
- 2 min read
Updated: Mar 15
Have you ever felt like you can suddenly lift twice as much weight at the gym with that EDM blast? According to a BBC article, music not only puts you in beast mode, it could actually make your muscles sculpt faster by improving your performance. Songs with fast-paced rhythms, like rock or EDM at 120-140 beats per minute, synchronize your movements, raise your adrenaline, and help you maintain the pace during those grueling reps. A Brunel University study found that music reduces the perception of exertion by up to 10%, making sweating feel like therapy rather than torture. So, while you're pumping iron to your favorite band, your muscles might be saying, "Thanks for that playlist, my friend!"
But it's not all headphone magic: music also pushes you to give that extra push that defines real gains. The article explains that a good beat not only distracts you from the pain, but also lifts your mood, releasing endorphins that keep you motivated for another set. Imagine your biceps and triceps growing to the rhythm of a Stairway to Heaven-style guitar solo! Researchers like Costas Karageorghis, an expert in sports psychology, claim that well-chosen music can increase your strength and endurance by up to 15%. Although there's no direct evidence that the beats alone cause muscle growth, the psychological boost leads you to train harder and more consistently. Turn up the volume and lift as many weights as you can!
Reference:
BBC Mundo. (2016, 4 de febrero). Cómo la música puede mejorar tu rendimiento deportivo. https://www.bbc.com/mundo/noticias/2016/02/160204_deportes_en_forma_ejercicios_musica_psicologia_rendimiento_vert_fut_jmp
Karageorghis, C. I., & Priest, D. L. (2012). Music in the exercise domain: A review and synthesis (Part I). International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 5(1), 44-66. https://doi.org/10.1080/1750984X.2011.631026
Terry, P. C., & Karageorghis, C. I. (2020). Psychophysical effects of music in sport and exercise: An update on research and application. Journal of Sports Sciences, 38(11-12), 1318-1327. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2020.1756675
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