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Wearing of Cloth or Disposable Surgical Face Masks has no Effect on Vigorous Exercise Performance in Healthy Individuals

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Listed:
  • Keely Shaw

    (College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B2, Canada)

  • Scotty Butcher

    (School of Rehabilitation Science, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 2Z4, Canada)

  • Jongbum Ko

    (College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B2, Canada)

  • Gordon A. Zello

    (College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5E5, Canada)

  • Philip D. Chilibeck

    (College of Kinesiology, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK S7N 5B2, Canada)

Abstract

Wearing face masks is recommended for the prevention of contracting or exposing others to cardiorespiratory infections, such as COVID-19. Controversy exists on whether wearing face masks during vigorous exercise affects performance. We used a randomized, counterbalanced cross-over design to evaluate the effects of wearing a surgical mask, a cloth mask, or no mask in 14 participants (7 men and 7 women; 28.2 ± 8.7 y) during a cycle ergometry test to exhaustion. Arterial oxygen saturation (pulse oximetry) and tissue oxygenation index (indicator of hemoglobin saturation/desaturation) at vastus lateralis (near-infrared spectroscopy) were assessed throughout the exercise tests. Wearing face masks had no effect on performance (time to exhaustion (mean ± SD): no mask 622 ± 141 s, surgical mask 657 ± 158 s, cloth mask 637 ± 153 s ( p = 0.20); peak power: no mask 234 ± 56 W, surgical mask 241 ± 57 W, cloth mask 241 ± 51 W ( p = 0.49)). When expressed relative to peak exercise performance, no differences were evident between wearing or not wearing a mask for arterial oxygen saturation, tissue oxygenation index, rating of perceived exertion, or heart rate at any time during the exercise tests. Wearing a face mask during vigorous exercise had no discernable detrimental effect on blood or muscle oxygenation, and exercise performance in young, healthy participants (ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT04557605).

Suggested Citation

  • Keely Shaw & Scotty Butcher & Jongbum Ko & Gordon A. Zello & Philip D. Chilibeck, 2020. "Wearing of Cloth or Disposable Surgical Face Masks has no Effect on Vigorous Exercise Performance in Healthy Individuals," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(21), pages 1-9, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:21:p:8110-:d:439446
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Alessia Tescione & Francesco Misiti & Simone Digennaro, 2022. "Practicing Outdoor Physical Activity: Is It Really a Good Choice? Short- and Long-Term Health Effects of Exercising in a Polluted Environment," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 14(23), pages 1-13, November.
    2. Ryan T. Conners & Paul N. Whitehead & Thomas Skarp & Briana Waller & Mark Richard & Carrington Bain & Megan Monks & Mark A. Faghy, 2022. "Acute Effects of Facial Coverings on Anaerobic Exercise Performance in College-Aged Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-10, August.
    3. Francesco Tessarolo & Giandomenico Nollo & Devid Maniglio & Marta Rigoni & Luca Benedetti & Fabrizia Helfer & Ivan Corradi & Luigi Rovati & Alberto Ferrari & Mattia Piccini & Luca Accorsi & Elena Vero, 2021. "Testing Surgical Face Masks in an Emergency Context: The Experience of Italian Laboratories during the COVID-19 Pandemic Crisis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-19, February.
    4. Gerald Jarnig & Reinhold Kerbl & Mireille N. M. van Poppel, 2022. "Effects of Wearing FFP2 Masks on SARS-CoV-2 Infection Rates in Classrooms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(20), pages 1-13, October.
    5. Robyn Braun-Trocchio & Jessica Renteria & Elizabeth Warfield & Kaitlyn Harrison & Ashlynn Williams, 2022. "The Effects of Face Coverings on Perceived Exertion and Attention Allocation during a Stepping Task," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(11), pages 1-9, June.
    6. Luciano Bubbico & Giuseppe Mastrangelo & Francesca Larese-Filon & Paolo Basso & Roberto Rigoli & Martina Maurelli & Salvatore Ferlito & Marco Capelli & Claudio Gisabella & Mohammad Javanbakht & Saveri, 2021. "Community Use of Face Masks against the Spread of COVID-19," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-13, March.
    7. Antonio Scarano & Francesco Inchingolo & Biagio Rapone & Felice Festa & Sergio Rexhep Tari & Felice Lorusso, 2021. "Protective Face Masks: Effect on the Oxygenation and Heart Rate Status of Oral Surgeons during Surgery," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(5), pages 1-10, February.
    8. Lai-Yin Qin, 2023. "A Comparison of the Effect of Facemasks on Perceived Breathability and Air Quality during Daily Activities and Indoor Exercises," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(5), pages 1-10, February.
    9. Keely A. Shaw & Scotty Butcher & Jong Bum Ko & Abdi Absher & Julianne Gordon & Cody Tkachuk & Gordon A. Zello & Philip D. Chilibeck, 2021. "Wearing a Surgical Face Mask Has Minimal Effect on Performance and Physiological Measures during High-Intensity Exercise in Youth Ice-Hockey Players: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(20), pages 1-12, October.
    10. Jennifer L. Scheid & Corinne Edwards & Michael Seils & Sarah L. West, 2022. "Perceived Exertion during Moderate and Vigorous Physical Activity While Mask Wearing: A Quantitative and Qualitative Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(9), pages 1-14, May.
    11. Juntaek Hong & Juahn Byun & Joong-on Choi & Dain Shim & Dong-wook Rha, 2022. "The Effects of Wearing Facemasks during Vigorous Exercise in the Aspect of Cardiopulmonary Response, In-Mask Environment, and Subject Discomfort," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(21), pages 1-10, October.

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