Dyspnea Is Attenuated by Auditory Distraction via Music with Headphones during Exercise in Healthy Individuals

Listening to music while exercising can alter afferent feedback from breathing sounds; however, it is currently unknown whether auditory distraction with music mitigates exertional dyspnea in healthy individuals. Purpose This study aimed to determine whether listening to music through headphones (a) affects the sensory (breathing intensity [BI]) and/or affective (breathing unpleasantness [BU]) components of dyspnea during exercise at different intensities and (b) affects exercise performance. Methods Twenty-two recreationally active individuals (24 +/- 3 yr, 10 women) performed two 5-min constant loads (10% below/above gas exchange threshold [GET]) and an 8-km cycling time trial with ambient laboratory noise or self-selected music in a randomized crossover design. BI, BU, and ventilation (V?(E)) were measured at each minute of the constant loads and every 2 km of the time trial. Ratios of BU/V?(E) and BI/V?(E) were used to examine the gain in dyspnea during the time trial. Results In the 10% below GET trial, BU was reduced in the first (P = 0.03) and final (P = 0.04) minutes. In the 10% above GET trial, BU and BI were reduced with music (P < 0.05). During the time trial with music, BU/V?(E) was significantly attenuated by 9%-13% (P < 0.05) despite a greater heart rate and self-selected power output (P < 0.05). Conclusions Music through headphones mitigated the sensation of dyspnea and changed the accretion of dyspnea per unit increase in V?(E) leading to a higher self-selected workload during self-paced exercise. The dyspnea-reducing intervention of self-selected music may improve exercise tolerance and performance and promote adherence to regular aerobic exercise.

Automated summary

Listening to music while exercising can mitigate dyspnea and improve exercise tolerance and performance.