"Exercisers fall asleep faster, suffer fewer middle-of-the-night wake-ups and have a reduced risk of sleep disorders, " says study co-author Brad Cardinal, co-director of the sport and exercise psychology program at Oregon State University.

CNN: How to fix health problems with exercise

"When people run with music their rate of perceived exertion is lower than if they don't use music or other devices, " says Gershon Tenenbaum, director of the graduate program in sport and exercise psychology at Florida State University.

WSJ: Optimal Music for the Gym

The study, scheduled to be published in the journal Psychology of Sport and Exercise, was sponsored by swimwear company Speedo International Ltd.

WSJ: Optimal Music for the Gym

Verheijen, who has also studied exercise physiology and sport psychology as well as taking a one-year Science in Football course, is not without his critics.

BBC: Total fitness from the land of Total Football