Music's affect muscle tension/body movement/coordination/motivation

Ever listen to music before/during an athletic event or listen to music while exercising?  If so, you were probably listening to that music because of the pleasure, not knowing that in reality music is able to improve body movement/coordination.  A test was conducted on this topic and a group of people had to perform a downward swing repeatedly.  When the music wasn’t playing for the first time the group of people performed the test and researchers found that the people’s swing varied in time due to the fact that each person’s swing was based on their own specific motion and repetition.  Whereas, when the music played the second time around, researchers observed that the group of people coordinated with the beat, instead of going at their own rate.  By coordinating with the beat the group of people had more control over their muscles, and it also enhanced their motivation. Music can also play an important role in restoring physical functioning in the rehabilitation of persons with movement disorders. 

Motivation is an essential factor that is a effect on the body due to music.  This is because in whatever you are doing, motivation in that activity will always increase if you are listening to music.  “Listening to upbeat music can be a great way to find some extra energy. Music can effectively eliminate exercise-induced fatigue and fatigue symptoms caused by monotonous work.”  This is why some people listen to music when doing their homework because the motivation to do the work increases.  People play music before an athletic event because it gives the athletes more motivation to perform and do well.    Music is played on commercials and in stores because it gives the customers more motivation to buy their items.  Therefore, choosing music that motivates you will make it easier to walk, run, dance, play, read, shop, or any other exercise that you perform.

Last, music is able to reduce muscle tension in the body.  The key reason for this is because of stress, due to the fact that stress and reduced muscle tension work together.  For example, if you are stressed out than more than likely your muscles are not going to be reduced in tension.  Whereas, if your stress is low than you will reduce the muscle tensions in the body.  The reason for this is that listening to music can have a tremendously relaxing effect on our minds and bodies, especially slow, quiet classical music.  Relaxation is the number one way to reduce stress, therefore if you are relaxed than you are going to reduce your stress, leading to reduced muscle tension.  Therefore, if a person is trying to reduce muscle tension the number one thing to do is listen to relaxing/calm music.

http://www.emedexpert.com/tips/music.shtml