Comparative Effects of Physical Activity and Relaxation Music on Post-Exercise Blood Pressure Responses in Young Adults

Abstract

The acute regulation of blood pressure following physical activity is a critical aspect of cardiovascular health, particularly in young adults exposed to modern lifestyle stressors. While physical activity is known to transiently elevate blood pressure, the potential of music interventions to modulate these responses remains underexplored. This study aimed to compare the effects of passive rest, phone music, and live music on systolic and diastolic blood pressure in college students after physical activity. Thirty college students participated in a within-subjects experiment involving four conditions: resting baseline, post-activity passive rest, post-activity phone music, and post-activity live music. Blood pressure was measured after each condition, and paired t-tests were used for statistical analysis. No significant differences were observed between resting and passive rest conditions. However, both phone and live music interventions produced significant reductions in systolic and diastolic blood pressure compared to rest and passive rest, with phone music demonstrating the greatest effect. Primary outcomes were systolic and diastolic blood pressure, assessed at minute 15 post-activity. The findings suggest that music, especially when delivered via personal devices, is a potent non-pharmacological strategy for acute blood pressure control. Music interventions, particularly personalized phone music, offer a promising, accessible approach to managing post-activity blood pressure in young adults. Further research should investigate long-term effects and optimal implementation strategies. However, the findings are limited by the modest sample size and short duration of follow-up. Future studies with larger cohorts and longer-term interventions are needed to validate and extend these results. The results highlight the potential for incorporating music-based interventions, especially personalized phone music, into stress management and cardiovascular health promotion programs for young adults.