Effect of Wearing Surgical Face Masks During Exercise: Does Intensity Matter?

Poon, Ellen; Zheng, Chen; Wong, Stephen Heung-Sang

doi:10.3389/fphys.2021.775750

Cited by 27 publications

(27 citation statements)

References 23 publications

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“…Although RPE at point of exhaustion was unaffected by mask use, the dyspnoea ratings were higher and the authors hypothesized that discomfort from mask wearing led to reduced exercise performance. This was also observed in studies by Fikenzer et al (2020) , Egger et al (2022) and Poon et al (2021) .…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

“…Alongside the conflicting data, there were also key differences in study conduct, with earlier studies employing the use of a face mask worn together with a spirometry mask. Poon et al (2021) conducted a crossover trial of 13 individuals that found no significant differences in physiological outcomes during exercise with the use of a face mask, although an increased rate of perceived exertion was reported with mask use on vigorous exertion. Fischer et al (2022) , conducted a similar trial in a population including those with coronary artery disease or hypertension, and concluded that face mask use during exercise reduced peak power output without differences in hemodynamic parameters.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Effect of Surgical Mask use on Peak Physical Performance During Exercise Treadmill Testing-A Real World, Crossover Study

et al. 2022

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Background: Mask wearing is an essential strategy to combat the spread of SARS-CoV-2. Some individuals may wear masks during physical activity to reduce disease transmission. This study aimed to investigate the real-world effect of wearing a surgical face mask on physiological parameters at peak exercise in healthy individuals.Methods: In this crossover design study, participants underwent maximal treadmill electrocardiogram exercise tests using the Bruce protocol on two separate occasions, once with a standard 3-ply surgical face mask and once without. Heart rate, oxygen saturation, blood pressure, rate pressure product, metabolic equivalents (METS) and total exercise time were measured. Subjective rate of perceived exertion was also assessed using the modified Borg Scale.Results: 50 adults (mean age = 31.7 ± 6.5 years; 27 males) completed both treadmill tests. Mask wearing resulted in a significant reduction in peak METS by 1.5 units, maximum speed by 0.5 km/h, exercise time by 68.4 s with a significantly lower peak heart rate by 4.4 bpm, and lower percentage of age-predicted maximum heart rate by 2.5% (p < 0.001 for all parameters). During each corresponding stage of the Bruce protocol, the average modified Borg score was found to be significantly higher in subjects exercising with mask after adjusting for age, gender and body mass index (p < 0.03).Conclusion: In a cohort of healthy individuals, wearing of a surgical face mask during maximal treadmill exercise lead to reduced physical performance and increased rate of perceived exertion. Individuals exercising with surgical masks need to be mindful of these limitations while undergoing physical training in order to differentiate these physiological responses from symptoms of early respiratory illness.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effect of Surgical Mask use on Peak Physical Performance During Exercise Treadmill Testing-A Real World, Crossover Study

et al. 2022

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“…On the other hand, pandemic restrictions could have mainly limited opportunities for practicing the vigorous physical activity required for muscular stimulation but less constrained opportunities for developing moderate physical activity that would allow partially preserving cardiorespiratory fitness. On the other hand, it must be pointed out that during the pandemic year, the 20 m SRT was performed while students wore face masks, and therefore, these results would support the lack of influence of this condition on maximum cardiorespiratory performance [ 42 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Comparison of Physical Fitness Profiles Obtained before and during COVID-19 Pandemic in Two Independent Large Samples of Children and Adolescents: DAFIS Project

Rúa-Alonso

Rial-Vázquez

Nine

et al. 2022

IJERPH

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COVID-19 pandemic restrictions might have negatively affected the health-related physical fitness of children and adolescents. The aim of this study was to contrast the body composition and physical fitness data of two independent samples of children and adolescents obtained from an online database (DAFIS project) before (n = 15,287) and during (n = 2101) the first academic year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The results revealed higher values for the body mass index (p = 0.002), waist circumference (p < 0.001), and waist to hip and waist to height ratios (p < 0.001) during than before the pandemic, particularly in the case of boys. On the other hand, lower muscular fitness was observed for girls during the pandemic. Quantitative and qualitative analysis did not detect relevant changes in cardiorespiratory fitness in children or adolescents (p > 0.05). Our data suggested that pandemic constraints might have affected body composition and muscular fitness of children and adolescents. These results might be of interest for designing specific interventions oriented toward counteracting the negative effects of pandemic restrictions on health-related physical fitness.

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“…By contrast, Rosa et al (2021) revealed that wearing an FFP2 or N95 face mask significantly increased the rating of perceived exertion during moderate-resistance exercise (four sets of bench press until movement failure at 50% one-RM) [ 11 ]. Another study reported that wearing an SM increased the rating of perceived exertion only when the intensity reached a high level (75% maximal oxygen uptake) and caused more discomfort in terms of heat, humidity, and breathing resistance [ 41 ]. In addition, the use of an SM or FFP2/N95 mask led to increased discomfort in terms of breathing resistance, tightness, feeling unfit, heat, fatigue, itchiness, and overall discomfort [ 5 ].…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Acute Effects of Wearing Different Surgical Face Masks during High-Intensity, Short-Rest Resistance Exercise on Cardiorespiratory and Pulmonary Function and Perceptual Responses in Weightlifters

Wang

Chiu

Hsu

et al. 2022

Biology

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This study investigated the effect of wearing a typical surgical mask (SM) or a three-dimensional (3D) SM (3DSM) during whole-body, high-intensity, short-rest resistance exercise on cardiorespiratory, respiratory, and perceptual comfort responses in weightlifters. Twenty elite weightlifters (6 women and 14 men; age = 24.1 ± 4.9 years; height: 167.45 ± 7.60 cm; body mass = 76.48 ± 19.86 kg) who participated in this study performed 3 resistance exercise sessions in a randomized order: (1) without a mask (NM), (2) while wearing a typical SM, and (3) while wearing a 3DSM. Resistance exercise consisted of a descending pyramid scheme starting at 10 repetitions, with a decrease of one repetition per set for the back squat, bench press, and deadlift, as fast as possible at 75% of the one-repetition maximum. Cardiorespiratory and pulmonary function and comfort were measured. Across all conditions, effective postexercise hypotension (PEH) was noted in terms of decreased systolic blood pressure (−4.64%), diastolic BP (−5.36%), mean arterial pressure (−5.02%), and ankle–brachial index (−6.84%). However, the heart rate (40.34%) and rate of pressure product (33.60%) increased, and no effects on pulmonary function were observed in the three conditions. The participants reported higher breathing resistance and tightness when wearing a typical SM than when wearing a 3DSM or no mask. Therefore, both wearing and not wearing a face mask during whole-body, high-intensity, short-rest resistance exercise promoted PEH and exerted no detrimental effect on pulmonary function. Coaches, trainers, and athletes should consider wearing a 3DSM during resistance exercise.

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Effect of Wearing Surgical Face Masks During Exercise: Does Intensity Matter?

Cited by 27 publications

References 23 publications

Effect of Surgical Mask use on Peak Physical Performance During Exercise Treadmill Testing-A Real World, Crossover Study

Effect of Surgical Mask use on Peak Physical Performance During Exercise Treadmill Testing-A Real World, Crossover Study

Comparison of Physical Fitness Profiles Obtained before and during COVID-19 Pandemic in Two Independent Large Samples of Children and Adolescents: DAFIS Project

Acute Effects of Wearing Different Surgical Face Masks during High-Intensity, Short-Rest Resistance Exercise on Cardiorespiratory and Pulmonary Function and Perceptual Responses in Weightlifters

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