Impact of Augmented Feedback and Music During the Bench Press Resistance Exercise: Does Their Combination Compromise Mechanical Performance?

Abstract

Background: Verbal feedback (knowledge of results [KR]) and listening to music are common ergogenic strategies used to boost athlete performance during resistance exercise. No previous research has explored their effects when both strategies are combined in the same exercise session (KR+music). This study aimed to examine the impact of providing KR, listening to music, and their combined effects on: (1) mechanical responses (number of repetitions, fastest velocity, and average velocity in a set), and (2) perceptual responses (feeling scale [FS], rating of perceived exertion [RPE], and rate of perceived discomfort [RPD]) when a determined percentage of velocity loss (%VL) is prescribed.

Hypothesis: Providing KR or listening to music would provide an ergogenic effect on these outcomes whereas KR+music can compromise mechanical performance.

Study design: Cross-sectional study.

Level of evidence: Level 3.

Methods: Fifteen recreational resistance-trained men were tested on 5 occasions separated by a 48 to 72 hour washout period. The first session was used to determine the bench press 1-repetition maximum (1RM) strength. The 4 experimental sessions were identical (4 sets at 70% 1RM with a 20%VL during bench press exercise) except for the intervention (ie, control, KR, music, and KR+music) used randomly on each session.

Results: The findings revealed that: (1) mechanical performance was significantly greater for the music condition (from 5.7% to 20.4%), followed by the KR+music (from 4.9% to 15.4%) and KR (from -0.4% to 8.1%) condition, and (2) greater FS values were found for music compared with control condition, while no significant differences were reported for RPE or RPD.

Conclusion: Listening to music enhances bench press performance and mood; adding KR does not compromise these benefits.

Clinical relevance: Recreational athlete performance may benefit from listening to music, and KR+music does not compromise this effect. However, athlete preference should take priority when implementing these ergogenic strategies.