Is Musical Auditory Stimulation Able to Influence the Recovery of Autonomic Modulation After Exercise?

Abstract

Context • The effects of musical auditory stimulation on the human body have received considerable interest, especially when related to health and wellbeing, so the objective was to verify the influence of classical music exposure on autonomic modulation in recovery after exercise. Methods • 35 healthy young men aged 21.74 ± 2.59 years were evaluated. Volunteers perform 2-day evaluations, 1 day without musical stimulus and 1 with musical stimulation through classical music during exercise and recovery. Physical exercises were performed on a treadmill with an intensity of 6.0 km/hr + 1% of inclination in the first 5 minutes for physical “warm-up”, followed by 25 minutes with an intensity equivalent to 60% of the maximum velocity (Vmax), with a same slope according to the Conconi’s threshold. Finally, the volunteers remain at rest for 60 minutes for recovery. Heart rate variability (HRV) was analyzed in some moments of recovery by linear (RMSSD, SDNN, LF and HF (milliseconds squared and normalized unit) and LF/HF ratio, RRtri, TINN and the Poincaré plot: SD1, SD2 and SD1/SD2) and nonlinear indexes (DFA Total, DFA Alpha 1 and Symbolic Analysis: Shannon’s Entropy, 0V%, 1V%, 2LV% and 2ULV%). Results • No differences were found in the comparison between the values of the HRV indexes between protocols and interaction moments vs protocols. Differences were observed between the moments for most indexes (P < .05). Conclusions • Classical music did not significantly influence the autonomic control of heart rate in the recovery phase after submaximal exercise.