Investigation of the effect of environmental factors on respiratory muscle endurance test results in healthy individuals

Environmental stimuli can affect the person emotionally and physically, positively or negatively. In this study, the effect of music during respiratory muscle endurance tests was investigated. Twenty-four healthy subjects, mean age of 24.042.88 years, were included in the study. Pulmonary function test, respiratory muscle strength assessment, respiratory muscle endurance tests, incremental shuttle walk test (ISWT), and International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ) were used in our assessments. The preferred songs of the individuals were determined according to the form they filled in. Individuals listened to their self-selected songs in the constant workload and incremental workload respiratory muscle endurance tests (CWRMET and IWRMET, respectively). Test orders were randomized. Each subject performed both tests with no music, motivational music and slow tempo music. In the CWRMET, 60% of the subject's maximum inspiratory pressure (MIP) was used. In the IWRMET, we used a protocol that starts with 20% MIP and reaches 100% MIP with increments every two minutes. No correlation was found between the subjects' physical activity levels and respiratory muscle endurance scores (p>0,05). A moderate positive correlation was found between the ISWT distance and the duration of the CWRMET while listening to motivational music (r=0,477, p<0,05). According to the CWRMET and IWRMET findings, the subjects reached a significantly longer endurance time in the tests in which they listened to motivational and slow tempo music compared to the tests without music (p<0,05). In the tests with motivational music, the respiratory rate of the subjects was significantly higher than in the tests with a slow tempo and without music (p<0,05). As a result, it has been shown that music with different types can affect heart rate, respiratory rate, blood pressure, fatigue, and dyspnea parameters in the respiratory muscle endurance test, and the presence of music during the CWRMET and IWRMET can increase respiratory muscle endurance times. The use of music in tests and exercises that require endurance can change test times, blood pressure, heart rate, respiratory rate, dyspnea and perceived exertion. Keywords: Respiratory muscles, music, exercise tolerance