Turning Down the Music in Fitness Classes Does Not Reduce Perceived Workout Intensity

Fitness instructors crank the volume. Participants assume louder music means a harder workout. But does it?

A comparative effectiveness study published in JAMA Otolaryngology - Head & Neck Surgery tested that assumption directly and found it does not hold up. Reducing music volume in group fitness classes did not lead to meaningful reductions in perceived exertion -- the subjective sense of how hard you are working.

The hearing damage problem

Group fitness classes routinely expose participants to sound levels that exceed occupational safety thresholds. Instructors often play music at volumes that, over the course of a class, can contribute to noise-induced hearing loss -- a condition that is permanent and cumulative. Unlike a construction site, there are no regulatory requirements for sound levels in gyms, and few participants wear hearing protection.

The study's core finding -- that turning the volume down does not make the workout feel easier -- removes a key objection that fitness professionals might raise against adopting safer sound practices. If perceived exertion stays the same, the motivational argument for high volume loses its empirical support.

What the study does and does not tell us

The original press release from JAMA provides limited methodological detail. The study is identified by its DOI (10.1001/jamaoto.2026.0028), and the corresponding author is Janet S. Choi, MD, MPH, of the University of Southern California. The full article contains additional information on methodology, sample size, and author affiliations that were not included in the press materials available for this summary.

Without access to the complete paper, specific details about the study design -- the number of participants, the volume levels tested, the types of fitness classes involved, and the magnitude of the exertion differences -- cannot be reported here. Readers interested in the methodology should consult the full article.

Practical implications

The findings support a straightforward public health recommendation: fitness facilities should consider implementing sound level guidelines. The study adds to growing evidence that the risks of high-volume music in exercise settings are real, while the perceived benefits are not supported by the data.

Awareness and education on hearing protection in fitness environments remain limited. This study contributes to the evidence base for changing that.