Effects of Classical Music combined with Binaural Beats, Negative Augmented Feedback and white noise on Psychological States and Running Performance in Recreational Runners

INTERVENTION: Behavioral : All interventions were delivered only during the running task through wireless in‐ear headphones equipped with active noise cancelling. The exercise task consisted of a five‐minute preparatory walk followed by twenty minutes of treadmill running at a self‐regulated speed maintaining a Borg rating of perceived exertion of 10 to 11; the baseline session followed the identical task without any auditory stimulation. The groups differed only in the type of auditory stimulus delivered, while the exercise task and all measurement procedures were identical across groups. Allocation was performed according to a previously prepared block randomization sequence by an independent third party not involved in the conduct of the study. Because the three conditions were clearly distinguishable by ear, participants were not blinded to their allocation, and they were not informed of the specific hypotheses or expected effects. CONDITION: Factors influencing health status and contact with health services PRIMARY OUTCOME: Negative affect score measured with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Positive affect score measured with the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule Running economy calculated from steady‐state oxygen uptake, expressed as the oxygen cost per unit body mass and unit distance SECONDARY OUTCOME: Cadence, defined as the number of steps per minute Step length measured with the OptoGait system Stride length measured with the OptoGait system Total flow score measured with the Short Flow State Scale Total score of perceived controlling behaviors measured with the Controlling Coaching Behaviors Scale, used as a manipulation check INCLUSION CRITERIA: Healthy adults aged 18 to 50 years who participate in recreational running and have prior experience of treadmill running