Effect of listening to preferred music at different frequencies during warmup on physical performance and psychophysiological responses in male athletes

The present study assessed the effects of listening to preferred music during warm-up at different frequencies (440 Hz vs. 432 Hz) on the physical performance and psychophysiological responses in male athletes. In a double-blind crossover study design, twenty-two male athletes (Mean ± SD: age: 22.4 ± 1.6 years; body mass: 71.8 ± 8.3 kg; height: 1.83 ± 0.1 m; BMI: 22.7 ± 1.9 kg. m^{- 2} randomly performed the 3-min all out test (3MT), repeated sprint test (RST), squat jump (SJ) and countermovement jump (CMJ) tests after listening to preferred music at 440 Hz-432 Hz frequencies or without music during warm-up. Heart rate was measured during 3MT, Also, rating of perceived exertion (RPE) and feeling scale (FS) were measured just after 3MT and RST tests. Results showed that no music condition induced lower performance compared to listening to preferred music at 440 Hz (mean speed: p < 0.001, d = 0.82; peak speed: p < 0.001, d = 0.85; total distance covered: p < 0.001, d = 0.83; FS: p < 0.001, d = 1.21) and music 432 Hz (mean speed: p < 0.001, d = 0.75; peak speed: p < 0.001, d = 0.58; total distance covered: p < 0.001, d = 0.76, FS: p = 0.004, d = 0.77) during 3MT. In addition, a significant decrease in Total time and Fast time indices of RST, FS, SJ and CMJ values was recorded with music at 440 Hz compared to music 432 Hz (total time: p < 0.001, d = 0.65; fast time: p < 0.001, d = 0.53; FS: p = 0.018, d = 0.59; SJ: p = 0.031, d = 0.3; CMJ: p = 0.007, d = 0.41) and no music condition (total time: p < 0.001, d = 0.89; fast time: p < 0.001, d = 0.57; FS: p < 0.001, d = 1.21; SJ: p < 0.001, d = 0.64; CMJ: p < 0.001, d = 0.54). However, no significant change was observed in heart rate, fatigue index of the RST, or RPE. Listening to preferred music at a fast tempo and moderate volume during warm-up sessions improved physical performance and positive mood irrespective of whether it was tuned to 440 Hz-432 Hz. The benefits were more noticeable at 440 Hz.