Wearing surgical masks does not affect heart rate and blood lactate accumulation during cycle ergometer exercise

Boldrini, Lorenzo; Danelon, Furio; Fusetti, Davide; Lucenteforte, Giacomo; Roi, Giulio Sergio

doi:10.23736/s0022-4707.20.11378-1

Cited by 10 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 3 publications

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“…Overall, 22 studies used a progressive exercise test [ 3 , 12 , 14 , 18 , 24 , 26 , 30 , 35 , 36 , 39 , 41 , 43 – 45 , 48 , 50 , 51 , 53 – 55 , 59 , 60 ], while 19 employed the steady-state constant exercise test [ 13 , 15 , 25 , 29 , 31 , 34 , 37 , 38 , 40 , 42 , 46 , 47 , 49 , 52 , 56 – 58 , 61 , 62 ], and two used interval exercise tests [ 28 , 32 ]. Moreover, one study used a resistance exercise test [ 33 ], and one used a sit-to-stand test [ 27 ].…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Wearing a Mask During Exercise on Physiological and Psychological Outcomes in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

et al. 2022

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Background Wearing face masks in public is an effective strategy for preventing the spread of viruses; however, it may negatively affect exercise responses. Therefore, this review aimed to explore the effects of wearing different types of face masks during exercise on various physiological and psychological outcomes in healthy individuals. Methods A literature search was conducted using relevant electronic databases, including Medline, PubMed, Embase, SPORTDiscus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Central Register of Controlled Trials on April 05, 2022. Studies examining the effect of mask wearing (surgical mask, cloth mask, and FFP2/N95 respirator) during exercise on various physiological and psychological parameters in apparently healthy individuals were included. For meta-analysis, a random effects model was used. Mean difference (MD) or standardized MD (SMD) with 95% confidence intervals (CI) were calculated to analyze the total effect and the effect in subgroups classified based on face mask and exercise types. The quality of included studies was examined using the revised Cochrane risk-of-bias tool. Results Forty-five studies with 1264 participants (708 men) were included in the systematic review. Face masks had significant effects on gas exchange when worn during exercise; this included differences in oxygen uptake (SMD − 0.66, 95% CI − 0.87 to − 0.45), end-tidal partial pressure of oxygen (MD − 3.79 mmHg, 95% CI − 5.46 to − 2.12), carbon dioxide production (SMD − 0.77, 95% CI − 1.15 to − 0.39), and end-tidal partial pressure of carbon dioxide (MD 2.93 mmHg, 95% CI 2.01–3.86). While oxygen saturation (MD − 0.48%, 95% CI − 0.71 to − 0.26) decreased slightly, heart rate was not affected. Mask wearing led to higher degrees of rating of perceived exertion, dyspnea, fatigue, and thermal sensation. Moreover, a small effect on exercise performance was observed in individuals wearing FFP2/N95 respirators (SMD − 0.42, 95% CI − 0.76 to − 0.08) and total effect (SMD − 0.23, 95% CI − 0.41 to − 0.04). Conclusion Wearing face masks during exercise modestly affected both physiological and psychological parameters, including gas exchange, pulmonary function, and subjective discomfort in healthy individuals, although the overall effect on exercise performance appeared to be small. This review provides updated information on optimizing exercise recommendations for the public during the COVID-19 pandemic. Systematic Review Registration Number This study was registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Review (PROSPERO) database (registration number: CRD42021287278). Supplementary Information The online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s40279-022-01746-4.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of Wearing a Mask During Exercise on Physiological and Psychological Outcomes in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

et al. 2022

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“…Six studies 18 , 19 , 26 , 32 , 34 , 36 examined effects of surgical masks or N95 FFRs on various physiological outcomes during moderate and nine 10 , 14 , 18 , 19 , 23 , 25 , 26 , 33 , 38 during high intensity activities. Seven network meta-analyses examining the effects of face masks and FFRs on HR, RR, VO 2max , VE, SpO 2, and RPE during high or moderate-intensity exercises were performed (Fig.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Bayesian network meta-analysis of face masks' impact on human physiology

Litwinowicz

Choroszy

Ornat

et al. 2022

Sci Rep

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Several concerns regarding the safety of face masks use have been propounded in public opinion. The objective of this review is to examine if these concerns find support in the literature by providing a comprehensive overview of physiological responses to the use of face masks. We have performed a systematic review, pairwise and network meta-analyses to investigate physiological responses to the use of face masks. The study has been registered with PROSPERO (C RD42020224791). Obtained results were screened using our exclusion and inclusion criteria. Meta-analyses were performed using the GeMTC and meta R packages. We have identified 26 studies meeting our inclusion and exclusion criteria, encompassing 751 participants. The use of face masks was not associated with significant changes in pulsoxymetrically measured oxygen saturation, even during maximal-effort exercises. The only significant physiological responses to the use of face masks during low-intensity activities were a slight increase in heart rate, mildly elevated partial pressure of carbon dioxide (not meeting criteria for hypercarbia), increased temperature of facial skin covered by the mask, and subsequent increase of the score in the rating of heat perception, with N95 filtering facepiece respirators having a greater effect than surgical masks. In high-intensity conditions, the use of face masks was associated with decreased oxygen uptake, ventilation, and RR. Face masks are safe to use and do not cause significant alterations in human physiology. The increase in heart rate stems most likely from increased respiratory work required to overcome breathing resistance. The increase in carbon dioxide is too small to be clinically relevant. An increased rating of heat perception when using face masks results from higher temperature of facial skin covered by the mask.

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“…In the same context, Driver et al 32 reported a decrease in peak heart rate with the use of cloth masks. However, other investigations did not find such alterations during exercise 6,14,17,19,31,34,36 …”

Section: Effects Of Pfm Use During Aerobic Exercisementioning

confidence: 89%

“…Considering the relevance of the subject regarding the use of PFM after the advent of the COVID‐19 pandemic, several studies have been recently conducted to elucidate its physiological effects on the wearer 5,6,13,14,16‐19,30–36 . Interestingly, when assessing the effects of surgical and FFP2/N95 masks in cardiorespiratory capacity, the FFP2/N95 showed a more significant decrease in VO 2 max 5 .…”

Section: Effects Of Pfm Use During Aerobic Exercisementioning

confidence: 99%

“…The effect of wearing different PFM types in aerobic fitness has been widely investigated over the last few years. In general, the majority of studies reported that the use of PFM during exercise did not decrease exercise tolerance 13,17‐19,30,31,34,36 . However, a few studies demonstrated alterations in cardiorespiratory response, such as lower ventilatory response and increased breathing distress, cardiovascular demands, and perceived exertion 5–9 .…”

Section: Recent Findingsmentioning

confidence: 99%

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The effect of the protective face mask on cardiorespiratory response during aerobic exercise

Prado

Silvino

Motta‐Santos

et al. 2022

Clin Exp Pharma Physio

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The protective face mask (PFM) has been widely used for safety purposes and, after the advent of the COVID‐19 pandemic, its use is growing steadily, not only among healthcare personnel but also the general population. While the PFM is important to preserve the wearer from contaminating agents present in the airflow, they are well known to increase the subjective perception of breathing difficulty. Although some studies have demonstrated that PFM use worsens exercise tolerance, several studies state that there is no such limitation with the use of PFM. Moreover, no serious adverse effects during physical exercise have been found in the literature. Physical exercise represents a significant challenge to the human body through a series of integrated changes in function that involve most of its physiologic systems. In this respect, cardiovascular and respiratory systems provide the capacity to sustain physical tasks over extended periods. Within this scenario, both convective oxygen (O2) transport (product of arterial O2 content × blood flow) to the working locomotor muscles and O2 diffusive transport from muscle capillaries to mitochondria are of paramount importance to endurance performance. Interestingly, the effects of PFM on cardiorespiratory response during aerobic exercise depends on the type of mask and exercise (i.e., walking, running, or cycling), the ventilatory demands, arterial oxygen levels, maximal oxygen consumption and endurance performance. The purpose of this review is to elucidate the effect of protective face mask‐wearing on (1) cardiorespiratory responses during aerobic exercise and (2) endurance performance.

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Wearing surgical masks does not affect heart rate and blood lactate accumulation during cycle ergometer exercise

Cited by 10 publications

References 3 publications

Effects of Wearing a Mask During Exercise on Physiological and Psychological Outcomes in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Effects of Wearing a Mask During Exercise on Physiological and Psychological Outcomes in Healthy Individuals: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Bayesian network meta-analysis of face masks' impact on human physiology

The effect of the protective face mask on cardiorespiratory response during aerobic exercise

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