Human study · Exercise · 24 Mar 2026
Self-selected music stretched cycling time-to-exhaustion by about six minutes in 29 adults
Source: University of Jyväskylä
What the research found
Study (crossover). Danso, Ihalainen and colleagues had 29 recreationally active adults cycle to exhaustion at ~80% peak power with self-selected 120–140 bpm music versus no music. Time-to-exhaustion was longer with music (35.6 vs 29.8 min). End-exercise heart rate, VO2, RPE, and lactate were similar; VO2peak did not moderate the effect. Small lab trial. Educational exercise notes, not a playlist protocol.
Evidence level: Human study. A study in people, but an association isn't proof of cause.
More exercise news
- In 13,423 adults ages 65 and older, higher balance, strength, and march scores lined up with a lower chance of dying over seven years
- In 1,917 Mexican adults ages 50 and older, a weaker handgrip lined up with a higher chance of dying, and the link was stronger in men
- In a rodent model, tongue exercise raised output from surviving motor neurons
- Both orders of complex training improved fitness measures in 25 male university athletes
- Resistance exercise plus essential amino acid intake beat either one alone for muscle fitness in women over 65