Over the past few years I have been asked in group workout sessions and during one-on-one training sessions what type of music I listen to when I work out. I am always surprised by the question and it makes me wonder if music has a greater impact on our workouts than we may think.

I have written a few columns on aerobic exercise classes and Zumba, and the instructors talk in absolutes, telling me it is all about the music. They always say it comes down to the beat, rhythm and tempo driving our energy levels during a workout.

So when it comes to listening to music while working out at the gym, when you jump on your bike or head out on a run it has become second nature to grab your headphones and turn up the volume. But is music really helping our exercise regimens? And how much do we know about the effects of music on our exercise?

Many studies have found numerous pros and an equal number of cons to listening to music while you exercise. What was found in most of the studies is music works better with some forms of exercise and can be distracting and even dangerous with other fitness activities.

Depending on your sport or fitness routine, listening to music is always distracting at some level. We have all been there in the middle of a workout and the music stops or you want to change your play list, which breaks your concentration. In one recent study, athletic trainers working with elite athletes found that regularly controlling devises while training had a negative impact on consistency with the athletes' form.

Here are a few pros and cons of music as it relates to exercise and fitness:

* Music takes your mind off the efforts of exercise. This can have a positive effect on overall performance for your workout, keeping your mind off fatigue.

* Music elevates positive aspects of your mood, which can relieve tension and enhance the overall euphoric effects of exercise-related endorphins.

* Motivational aspects of certain music genres like techno and hip hop can stimulate the sympathetic nervous system. Research has shown that there is a small increase in systolic and diastolic pressures during exposure to music with high intensity peaks. Music between 120 and 140 beats per minute seems to have the maximum effect during exercise.

* Studies have found that cyclists actually maintain better cadence and achieve more efficiency when listening to fast-tempo music.

* Listening to music while running or biking can lead to accidents. With headphones on and music at higher volumes, environmental noise like cars and other cyclists can be blocked.

* The challenge for runners is that music can change your tempo and throw you off your pace. Music can create inconsistencies with your cadence and your gait mechanics.

* There is no supporting data that physiologically, music actually improves your workout. Studies have not shown consistent data that music improves muscular endurance or has a performance-enhancing effect on our respiratory or heart rate.

* Music can cause you to over exert your body beyond your normal limits, which could result in injury.

Music used with fitness and exercise is a bit of a mixed bag. There are many like me who will always use the addition of music to get into the zone for a great run or weight workout. There are the elite athletes who need complete focus, so headphones will never be used during training sessions. The science behind whether music really helps your fitness will most likely be up for debate.

I think we will see much more on music and its influence on fitness in the next couple of years. Companies like Spotify have been working with a team of scientists to create "The Ultimate Workout Playlist," which they claim will boost your workout based on the music's popularity, tempo and lyrics. Another interesting approach is blending music into workout apps for your smart phones. A number of companies have started to integrate their apps to include timing, heart rate and GPS mapping information around your playlist.

Judd Jones is a director for the Hagadone Corporation.