Pump it up! Music really does boost your workout

FOR most joggers and gym bunnies, a pair of headphones is as much a part of their kit as a pair of trainers.

And they may be just as essential for a good workout – because playing music while exercising really does boost endurance, scientists say.

Those who listened to music could run almost a minute longer during a tough stress test on a treadmill.

Fitness coaches have long suspected that music acts as a powerful motivator, but researchers have now shown it to be true.

Dr Waseem Shami, from Texas Tech University in the US, monitored 127 people during an electrocardiogram treadmill stress test, in which they ran for as long as possible, hooked up to a heart monitor.

Half wore headphones playing fast Latin music, while the rest wore headphones without any music.

Those listening to music ran for eight and a half minutes – 51 seconds longer than the others.

Dr Shami said: ‘I think it’s something we intuitively knew, but we found to be true.’