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Objective: To evaluate effects of participant-selected music on older adults' achievement of activity levels recommended in the physical activity guidelines following cardiac rehabilitation., Design: A parallel group randomized controlled trial with measurements at Weeks 0, 6 and 26., Setting: A multisite outpatient rehabilitation programme of a publicly funded metropolitan health service., Subjects: Adults aged 60 years and older who had completed a cardiac rehabilitation programme., Interventions: Experimental participants selected music to support walking with guidance from a music therapist. Control participants received usual care only., Main Measures: The primary outcome was the proportion of participants achieving activity levels recommended in physical activity guidelines. Secondary outcomes compared amounts of physical activity, exercise capacity, cardiac risk factors, and exercise self-efficacy., Results: A total of 56 participants, mean age 68.2 years (SD = 6.5), were randomized to the experimental ( n = 28) and control groups ( n = 28). There were no differences between groups in proportions of participants achieving activity recommended in physical activity guidelines at Week 6 or 26. Secondary outcomes demonstrated between-group differences in male waist circumference at both measurements (Week 6 difference -2.0 cm, 95% CI -4.0 to 0; Week 26 difference -2.8 cm, 95% CI -5.4 to -0.1), and observed effect sizes favoured the experimental group for amounts of physical activity (d = 0.30), exercise capacity (d = 0.48), and blood pressure (d = -0.32)., Conclusions: Participant-selected music did not increase the proportion of participants achieving recommended amounts of physical activity, but may have contributed to exercise-related benefits.

Background: Music listening during exercise is thought to increase physiological arousal and enhance subjective experience, and may support physical activity participation among older adults with cardiac disease. However, little is known about how music preferences, or perceptions of music during exercise, inform clinical practice with this population., Objective: Identify predominant musical characteristics of preferred music selected by older adults, and explore participants' music listening experiences during walking-based exercise following cardiac rehabilitation., Methods: Twenty-seven participants aged 60 years and older (21 men, 6 women; mean age = 67.3 years) selected music to support walking over a 6-month intervention period, and participated in post-intervention interviews. In this two-phase study, we first identified predominant characteristics of participant-selected music using the Structural Model of Music Analysis. Second, we used inductive thematic analysis to explore participant experiences., Results: Predominant characteristics of participant-selected music included duple meter, consistent rhythm, major key, rounded melodic shape, legato articulation, predictable harmonies, variable volume, and episodes of tension with delayed resolution. There was no predominant tempo, with music selections ranging from slow through to medium and fast. Four themes emerged from thematic analysis of participant interviews: psycho-emotional responses, physical responses, influence on exercise behavior, and negative experiences., Conclusions: Findings are consistent with theory and research explaining influences from music listening on physiological arousal and subjective experience during exercise. Additionally, for older adults with cardiac disease, a holistic approach to music selection considering general well-being and adjustment issues, rather than just exercise performance, may improve long-term lifestyle changes and compliance with physical activity guidelines., (© the American Music Therapy Association 2016. All rights reserved. For permissions, please e-mail: journals.permissions@oup.com.)

Purpose: Music is recognized as a useful distractor from unpleasant symptoms during exercise and provides motivation; however, little is known about its application during pulmonary or cardiac rehabilitation programs, including its use, genres, and influences on genre selection. This study aimed to determine the current practice of background and self-selected music listening during exercise training in pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation programs in Australia. Methods: This was a cross-sectional study, using 2 anonymous, electronic surveys. Participants were program contacts (clinicians) listed on national databases. Results: There were 17 of 100 (17%) and 31 of 250 (12%) respondents for pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation programs, respectively. A total of 15 respondents (88%) reported using background music for pulmonary rehabilitation, whereas 29 respondents (94%) reported using background music for cardiac rehabilitation. Clinicians and participants had input into the selection of background music genres. Background music was preferentially upbeat and energizing, selected to motivate participants. Use of self-selected music listening by participants for individual use was uncommon in pulmonary (24%) and cardiac rehabilitation (32%). Conclusions: Background music is played during exercise training sessions within a limited proportion of pulmonary and cardiac rehabilitation programs surveyed in Australia. A wide range of genres were applied in background music listening, with selections predominantly based on their potential to motivate participants to exercise. There is little use of self-selected, individualized music listening among participants in these environments. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Music with motivating qualities might support exercise adherence in older adults with cardiac disease. The Brunel Music Rating Inventory-2 (BMRI-2), a 6-item scale with motivational quotients ranging from 6 to 42 developed to facilitate music selection for exercise, has been validated with young adults. However, the suitability of the BMRI-2 for older adults is unknown. We tested reliability (internal consistency, test-retest reliability, and measurement error) and validity (content and construct) of the BMRI-2 with older adults in cardiac rehabilitation. Eleven men and 9 women (M age = 71.6 years, SD = 8.9) selected two pieces of music and used the BMRI-2 to rate the motivational quality of these for a walking task. BMRI-2 ratings demonstrated high internal consistency. Test-retest reliability and levels of measurement error were acceptable. Content was evaluated as relevant and comprehensive. There was convergence with flow scales, and discrimination between music selections with differing motivational quotients (p < .01). The BMRI-2 demonstrates acceptable psychometric properties for older adult cardiac rehabilitation patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]