Exercising at the time of the COVID-19 pandemic: acute physiological, perceptual and performance responses of wearing face masks during sports activity.

Abstract

BACKGROUND:

The COVID-19 pandemic requires the adoption of strict preventive measures, such as wearing a protective face mask, but few studies investigated its impact during exercise. We investigated the effects of wearing a protective face mask while exercising at different intensities and verified whether differences between two types of protective face masks exist.

METHODS:

Twenty subjects performed 4-min running at 8 km•h-1 and at 10 km•h-1, 8 x 90-m Intermittent running bouts and the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test Level-1, while wearing either a surgical mask, a sports-reusable mask or no mask. Physiological responses (HR, [La], SpO<inf>2</inf>), overall and breathlessness perceived exertion and YYIRT1-distance were assessed.

RESULTS:

Breathlessness RPE was greater with surgical than without mask at the end of the run at 8 km•h-1 (+7.18 [3.21, 11.50]) and with both surgical and sports-reusable mask than without mask at the end of the run at 10 km•h-1 (+8.09 [4.09, 12.60] and +8.21 [4.53, 12.70]) and intermittent exercise (+11.10 [6.41, 16.10] and +10.50 [6.18, 15.30]). Overall RPE was greater with surgical than without mask at the end of the run at 8 (+3.71 [1.15, 6.91]) and 10 km•h-1 (+5.29 [2.26, 8.85]). Furthermore, YYIRT1 performance was lower with surgical (-150 m [44, 240]) and sports-reusable mask (-201 m [108, 286]) than without mask.

CONCLUSIONS:

Regardless of exercise intensity and mask type, wearing a protective face mask mostly affects perceptual responses, also causing a performance reduction during maximal exercise. These findings must be considered when prescribing/practicing exercise while wearing a protective face mask.

• Authors: Roberto Modena, Alessandro Fornasiero, Alexa Callovini, Aldo Savoldelli, Barbara Pellegrini, Federico Schena, Lorenzo Bortolan
• Journal: The Journal of sports medicine and physical fitness (J Sports Med Phys Fitness) Vol. 62 Issue 10 Pg. 1329-1337 (Oct 2022) ISSN: 1827-1928 [Electronic] Italy
• PMID: 34913625 (Publication Type: Journal Article)

Topics

• COVID-19
• Dyspnea
• Exercise
• Humans
• Masks
• Pandemics (prevention & control)