Long before the pandemic hit, the ease of fitness apps had seen a steady stream of people ditching gym memberships in favor of home regimens. With the closure of many gym facilities (not to mention the lingering concern regarding indoor spaces), this pace has only accelerated, with many transforming unused spaces of their homes into a legitimate home gym, and that presents an interesting opportunity for integrators, according to Sonos.
A recent study done by the smart speaker company has unveiled that music can have some powerful qualities when it comes to workout regimens, opening a new avenue for home integrators to incorporate technologies that allow fitness enthusiasts to work out more efficiently and enjoyably from home.
A rise in home gym setups offers an interesting opportunity according to a recent Sonos study.
In a global survey that polled 12,000 people across 12 countries, 75% of people who exercise regularly say music has made a bigger impact on their fitness than any supplement.
Meanwhile, 81% say listening to great music inspires them to achieve greatness in their fitness, and 77% say if they’re thinking about skipping a workout, music can help them get started.
How Music Impacts Exercise
To learn more about the influence listening and sound quality has on fitness specifically, Sonos conducted a three-day field study at PROJECT by Equinox in Manhattan.
This included 35 participants and measured the impact of sound quality on performance during High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) workouts. The results were quite impressive:
- In high-quality sound conditions, participants increased their output by over 2% more than low-quality and 4% over no sound
- The average heart rate for the session was at its greatest during the high-quality intervals—almost 3.5% higher than during low-quality sound
- In high-quality sound, participants were able to push themselves harder without feeling like they were working out harder
- When compared to low-quality sound, participants felt a 34% increase in feelings of connection to workout partners during the high-quality sound session
“The effects and impact of music in sport, activity and exercise has been a research topic for well over 40 years, but for the first time, we’ve started to uncover the importance of sound quality (not just volume, tempo, and musicality) in helping athletes and fitness enthusiasts of all levels perform their best,” says Dr. Tom Brownlee, a lecturer in sport and exercise physiology.
“In a world where we spend thousands of dollars and hours researching gear and equipment that will give us any competitive edge, it’s interesting to discover that higher-quality sound seems to offer the kind of extra benefit we look for from a range of wearable training devices and accessories.”
Another version of this article originally appeared on CE Pro.
