The Beat Goes On: How Music Affects Exercise
Hearing a song can trigger a memory or a feeling, and it can even provide motivation. If you have attended a sports event then you know that music helps to encourage the players and the fans. The tempo of the song, or the number of beats per minute (BPM), can also help you to correlate music with your target heart rate for exercise.
Find Your Target Heart Rate
The resting heart rate for adults is 60 – 100 BPM, but it can be much lower for athletes at 40 – 60 BPM. When exercising, you can improve your heart and lung fitness by reaching your target heart rate zone. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, these are the target heart rate zones by age.
| Age | Target Heart Rate Zone: 50 – 75% | Maximum Heart Rate: 100% |
| 20 | 100-150 BPM | 200 BPM |
| 25 | 98-146 BPM | 195 BPM |
| 30 | 95-142 BPM | 190 BPM |
| 35 | 93-138 BPM | 185 BPM |
| 40 | 90-135 BPM | 180 BPM |
| 45 | 88-131 BPM | 175 BPM |
| 50 | 85-127 BPM | 170 BPM |
| 55 | 83-123 BPM | 165 BPM |
| 60 | 80-120 BPM | 160 BPM |
| 65 | 78-116 BPM | 155 BPM |
| 70 | 75-113 BPM | 150 BPM |
Find Your Beat
Once you find your zone, you can create or find a playlist that corresponds to your target heart rate. Memorial created a Spotify playlist to help get you started.
Make sure you cool down at the end of your workout. Listen to our Cool Down playlist to help bring your heart rate back to normal.
Need help getting started with exercise?
Speak with your doctor about an exercise regimen that works best for you, and if you need help, request a referral to physical therapy to get you started.
- Physical Therapy at Abraham Lincoln Memorial Hospital, Lincoln, IL
- Physical Therapy at Memorial Medical Center, Springfield, IL
- Physical Therapy at Passavant Area Hospital, Jacksonville, IL
- Physical Therapy at Taylorville Memorial Hospital, Taylorville, Illinois
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