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RESEARCH PRODUCT

High versus low motivating music on intermittent fitness and agility in young well-trained basketball players

subject

description

The present study aimed to analyse the influence of the music level of motivation, compared to the absence of music, on intermittent fitness and agility, in a group of young well-trained basketball players. On alternate days, thirteen players (14.85 ± 0.68 years, 188 ± 0.05 cm, 75.89 ± 8.02 kg) were assessed of the V-Cut test (agility test including changes of direction) and the 30–15 Intermittent Fitness Test (30-15IFT; maximal running speed under fatigue). There were six testing sessions over three consecutive weeks, with three different randomized conditions: team-selected High Motivating Music (HMM), Low Motivating Music (LMM), and the No-Music condition (NM). Arterial oxygen saturation, Heart Rate, Lactate (BLa), Perceived Readiness, and the Rating of Perceived Effort of the session (RPE30) were registered. As a main finding, HMM largely enhanced performance in the 30-15IFT (p < .01) compared to LMM (d = 1.39) and NM (d = 1.29), with non-significant differences between them (d = .35). This resulted in a larger and significant estimated VO2max (p < .005, different from LMM & NM), with a similar HR, a bit lower – although non-significant – BLapost, and no psychophysical differences. Conversely, asynchronous music did not affect the V-Cut test, despite the reduction of time in HMM, followed by LMM. Motivational music confirmed helping well-trained developing youngsters to display larger performances with similar internal responses (i.e., higher efficiency). Noteworthy, musical preferences were important even in a group approach (basketball). Very short and sub-maximal complex agility tasks, including changes of direction, like the V-Cut do not benefit from the influence of asynchronous music.