Exploring the Effects of Traditional Music on the Cardiorespiratory Characteristics of Pencak Silat Athletes During Performance: A Preliminary Study

Abstract

There are differing opinions regarding the effects of music on cardiac physiology, particularly in the context of physical activity. The concept of cardiorespiration, however, emphasizes the coupling between the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. Within the framework of dance biomechanics—which focuses on the clinical therapeutic potential of dance—physical activity is consistently identified as the primary source of its positive effects. In this context, music represents one of the elements of dance—namely, sound, movement, and artistic expression. This study seeks to investigate the effects of music on the cardiorespiratory physiology of pencak silat athletes. Pencak silat is conceptualized as an activity that bridges the gap between sports and dance. The study was conducted on male and female pencak silat athletes who performed both with and without musical accompaniment. The measured variables were body temperature, heart rate, and oxygen saturation. The results indicate that music has a significant positive effect on increasing athletes’ body temperature and heart rate (p ≤ 0.05). Further analysis is needed to understand fluctuations in athletes’ body temperature during performance and to improve the validity of measurements, particularly for oxygen saturation.