The purpose of this study is to determine whether in healthy subjects listening to music while running influences the ground pressure forces, the vertical loading and, overall, the running biomechanics.
The analysis of the effects that listening to music may exert during exercise has been the topic of a number of scientific articles. Overall, these studies documented how music influences performance and they generally observed positive effects. The majority of the investigations were carried out in the aerobic/endurance domain where music was found to enhance running performance and is also likely to accelerate heart rate recovery after strenuous exercise, albeit not all the authors agree on this point. It has been also reported that loud music not only enhances optimal exercising, but also interacts with music tempo to yield significant additional performance benefits. Despite such interesting findings, the focus of these investigations was restricted to characterize the physiological responses that individuals exhibit when listening to music during physical activity, mainly running. Thus, the studies ended up with positive results, that is, increased performance, or failed in showing any effect. Beside the above reported positive effects of music some potentially negative effects should be considered. First, regardless of whether running is included or not in the experimental condition, exposure to high levels of noise/sound even for short periods of time can be damaging for the auditory system, possibly resulting in hearing loss or impairment. This topic has been scrutinized by a number of studies, with a specific attention to adolescent populations who are exposed to high risk of hearing problems due to the massive usage of listening devices. Although this is a crucial issue, such source of hazard can be adequately controlled for by firmly sticking to the guidelines on the recommended exposure limits (REL), which is recommended by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH). The REL has been set at 85 decibels (dB) for a maximum of 8 hours. Increasing the volume by rate of 3 dB increases the risk exponentially. For instance, a noise corresponding to an intensity of 88 dB should not exceed an exposure of 4 hours, then 91 dB 2 hours, 94 dB 1 hour, 97 dB 30 minutes, 100 dB 15 minutes, 103 dB 7.5 minutes, 106 dB 3.7 minutes and so on, up to 140 dB, which must not be provided at all. Surprisingly, to date and to our knowledge, the influence that listening to music with portable devices and earphones may exert on the amount of vertical force upon impact loading during running has not been investigated yet. Unlike the considerable number of previous works which were focused on the physiological and psychological responses to music during exercise, no references that attempted to address the biomechanical consequences of music listening on impact loading and jogging/running mechanics could be traced in the literature. Therefore, our main goal is to fill this gap in the existing literature. Considering the universal widespread and popularity of running and that approximately 47 million Americans participated in running activities in the last decade, the findings generated by this research would be highly relevant to the broad field of sports medicine and exercise science.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
DOUBLE
Enrollment
40
While running three 2-minute sets at different velocities (6, 8 and 10 km/h, respectively) on a sensorized treadmill, each participant will be exposed via earphones to an audio track resembling average outdoor conditions (70 dB).
While running three 2-minute sets at different velocities (6, 8 and 10 km/h, respectively) on a sensorized treadmill, each participant will be provided the same music track ("We take care of our own", by Bruce Springsteen from the "Wrecking Ball" album, 2012). The music track will be given at a moderate volume (80 dB).
Department of Biomedical Sciences- University of Sassari
Sassari, Sassari (SS), Italy
RECRUITINGUniversity of Sassari
Sassari, Italy
RECRUITINGAverage ground pressure force
This outcome expresses the mean amount of impact recorded by the force plates embedded in the treadmill.
Time frame: It will be assessed for each participant and for each arm of the study during the three 2-minute runs on the treadmill through study completion, an average of 1 year.
Peak ground pressure force
This outcome expresses the highest amount of impact recorded by the force plates embedded in the treadmill.
Time frame: It will be assessed for each participant and for each arm of the study during the three 2-minute runs on the treadmill through study completion, an average of 1 year.
Average vertical loading rate
This outcome expresses the vertical oscillation of the center of mass and is considered highly linked to the risk of injury.
Time frame: It will be assessed for each participant and for each arm of the study during the three 2-minute runs on the treadmill through study completion, an average of 1 year.
Stride length
The stride length is the distance between two successive placements of the same foot.
Time frame: It will be assessed for each participant and for each arm of the study during the three 2-minute runs on the treadmill through study completion, an average of 1 year.
Stride time
It is the time elapsed between the first contact of two consecutive footsteps of the same foot and is expressed in milliseconds.
Time frame: It will be assessed for each participant and for each arm of the study during the three 2-minute runs on the treadmill through study completion, an average of 1 year.
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While running three 2-minute sets at different velocities (6, 8 and 10 km/h, respectively) on a sensorized treadmill, each participant will be provided the same music track ("We take care of our own", by Bruce Springsteen from the "Wrecking Ball" album, 2012). The music track will be given at a moderate-to-high volume (85 dB).