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Several studies have analyzed the impact of the use of surgical masks on cardiovascular and subjective responses to exercise. In any case, these masks are not widely used, and few studies have looked at the impact of cloth masks. The results of a small clinical study, published online in the journal British Journal of Sports Medicine, reveals that the use of a textile face reduces performance and physical capacity during exercise, especially at the highest intensity.
Users also reported increased difficulty breathing and claustrophobia at higher exercise intensities, prompting researchers to suggest changing the frequency, intensity, duration and type of exercise performed when wearing a cloth mask. According to researchers, recommendations for the use of masks during exercise vary around the world, and the physiological impact of using cloth masks during exercise is poorly understood.
In an attempt to fill this knowledge gap, researchers compared the exercise performance of 31 healthy adults, aged 18 to 29, running on a treadmill until exhaustion, once with a cloth mask and once without.
Blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, exertion and shortness of breath were measured and recorded after a warm-up of 3 minutes, during the exercise test and 7 minutes after completion (recovery period). They were asked to rate their experiences wearing a face mask, including comfort, temperature and breathability, immediately after completing the masked test.
The participants used to sing an average of 170 minutes / week of moderate physical activity and 206 minutes / week of vigorous physical activity. None of them smoked cigarettes, although three said they smoked marijuana, and five participants indicated a history of medically controlled asthma. Tres of the four said they wore a face mask while exercising before participating in the study, and 19 (61%) said their exercise center requested it.
Analysis of the recorded data showed that, compared to not wearing a cloth mask, the use of this meant a significant reduction in training time (14%) and from physiological measurements of capacity, including maximum oxygen consumption (29% reduction) and maximum heart rate, as well as increased difficulty breathing.
These changes reflected the intensity of the exercise and were attributed to the perceived discomfort associated with using the mask. They were resolved after the 7-minute recovery period, when the results of the two tests were no longer different.
Claustrophobia and difficulty breathing
Compared to not wearing a cloth mask, participants reported sensation increasing difficulty breathing and claustrophobia at higher exercise intensities while wearing one. Most participants (30) agreed or agreed that it was more difficult to exert maximum effort during the test while wearing a mask.
The answers included: “more difficult than last time”, “I got tired faster; it didn’t affect me while walking, it affected me while jogging “, especially at higher intensity” running was harder than normal, breathing became harder as speed / inclination increased, feeling out of breath, I felt like I couldn’t breathe anymore ”and“ I had to breathe deeper to get the same amount of air ”.
Participants also mentioned that felt “claustrophobic”, “suffocated” and “anxious” while wearing a mask and breathing “shorter and shallower, with his face covered.” None indicated that the moisture or weight of the mask inhibited their performance or forced them to interrupt the stress test.
“As our results do not fully explain how the use of the mask could directly limit cardiovascular function, our conclusion is that the discomfort associated with the use of the mask is evidenced by higher assessments of dyspnea in the condition of the mask and qualitative feedback from participants, led directly to poor performance“, the researchers suggest.
“It simply came to our notice then various implications for training and performance while wearing a cloth mask, “they add. First, because wearing a cloth mask has reduced exercise performance, peak VO2 and related variables, training variables of frequency, intensity, time and type of activity should be amended accordingly. “.
“Second,” he continues, “the goals of the exercise can be modified to reflect the reduced performance and psychological impact of wearing a cloth mask, while promoting the safe achievement of goals.”