Of all the lifts we can do at the gym, the one that makes us feel strongest might be the one in our ears.

It's the musical lift, a maneuver where we use songs to pump up our energy to help pump up our fitness level.

John Amis / AJC Special (ENLARGE)

Men's Health asked its readers to name the best and worst workout songs. Atlanta musicians OutKast topped the list with heart-pumping 'Bombs Over Baghdad.'

Associated Press (ENLARGE)

Worst workout song? Try ''Man! I Feel Like a Woman!' by Shania Twain.

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"We like it loud," proclaimed Michelle Poppe, 38, a trainer at Rezults Downtown Fitness in Cleveland, where she teaches a herd of gym-goers who get a rush from mixing music and movement.

A fast-paced techno version of "The Hey Song," a popular glam rock tune played at sporting events, echoed in Poppe's Boot Camp cardio class as they unleashed a barrage of jumping jacks and high-knee bends in unison. And as sweat fell from their faces and limbs, their moods and adrenaline soared.

"The music really boosts my spirits when I get tired," said Jen Diefenthaler, 23, of Brunswick, breathing heavily after the routine. "Today, it helped me keep the beat and made me go faster to keep up even when I didn't want to."

Researchers across the country have tested the effects of music on exercise performance. In dozens of studies dating as far back as the 1950s, they have discovered music can invigorate moods, revive energy levels and regulate blood flow and breathing rates.

Kamal Chemali, a neurologist at the Cleveland Clinic and a musician, recently performed an informal study on himself and discovered what a few larger formal studies had found. At one point, Chemali, who plays piano, ran on a treadmill in silence. He then listened to classical songs while performing the same task. He preferred tunes with steady beats and not much fluctuation from pianists like Johannes Brahms.

Without the music, Chemali said he was unable to control his heart rate. It beat faster than he wanted. His conclusion: "I'm able to go much longer with the music on than without it," he said. "It's important to choose music with tempos that match the rhythm of your desired heart rate."

Some research also suggests that believing the music will improve workouts is more important than the music itself.

"Evidence shows that no matter what music you prefer, it tends to relax you, energize you or do whatever you want it to do," said Scott Bea, a psychologist at Cleveland Clinic.

Most gyms play music to help motivate people, but many people bring personal music players.

Todd Lamperski, owner and operator of the Rezults gym, gets inspiration from Metallica, Godsmack and Disturbed.

"I personally do it to block out the rest of the world," said Lamperski, also a personal trainer. "All you have to do is turn up the volume to your favorite song."

At the YMCA in Lakewood, Ohio, Anthony Walter, 32, listened to Kelly Clarkson in between lifts, and John Aldridge, 69, put on soft rock while he rode the elliptical bike. Both said the last time they worked out without music was when their batteries died.

"My radio player has become part of my workout attire," Aldridge said.

Karen Beegan, 38, cooled down to Depeche Mode after her routine.

"Music is a way to get motivated — there's no question about it. It helps everything, whether you're working out or cleaning the house," she said before picking up her three children downstairs in the day-care center to go home to clean.

Back at the fitness room at Rezults, trainer Poppe said it's all about the music.

"I can come in on any day with an awful mood," she said, "but as soon as I put on the music, everything gets better."

Men's Health asked its readers to name the best and worst workout songs. Here are the results.

Turn it up:

• "Bombs Over Baghdad," OutKast

• "Welcome to the Jungle," Guns N' Roses

• "New Workout Plan," Kanye West

• "Hell's Bells," AC/DC

• "Enter Sandman," Metallica

• "Eye of the Tiger," Survivor

• "Killing in the Name," Rage Against the Machine

• "London's Burning," The Clash

Turn it off:

• "Man! I Feel Like a Woman!" Shania Twain

• "Physical," Olivia Newton-John

• "I Touch Myself," the Divinyls

• "Can You Feel the Love Tonight?" Elton John

• "Dancing Queen," Abba