Abstract
Simple SummaryStudy comparing the use of a surgical mask, FFP2 or none in people with sarcopenia during a resistance training session on strength performance, heart rate, heart rate variability, blood lactate concentration or rating of perceived effort.Due to COVID-19, wearing a face mask to reduce virus transmission is currently mandatory in some countries when participants practice exercise in sports centers. Therefore, the aim of the present study was to analyze the effect of wearing a surgical or FFP2 mask during a resistance training session. Fourteen people with sarcopenia (age: 59.40 ± 5.46 years; weight: 68.78 ± 8.31 kg; height: 163.84 ± 9.08 cm) that participated in the study performed three training sessions in a randomized order: 4 sets of 10 repetitions of a half-squat at 60% of the one-repetition maximum and 90 s of rest between set and were either (a) without a mask (NM), (b) wearing a surgical face mask (SM), and (c) wearing a FFP2 face mask (FFP2). We found that wearing face masks had no effect on strength performance (session mean propulsive velocity (m/s): WM: 0.396 ± 0.042; SM: 0.387 ± 0.037; and FFP2: 0.391 ± 0.042 (p = 0.918)). Additionally, no impact of wearing a mask was found on heart rate, heart rate variability, blood lactate concentration (WM: 4.17 ± 1.89; SM: 4.49 ± 2.07; and FFP2: 5.28 ± 2.45 mmol/L (p = 0.447)), or rating of perceived exertion. Wearing a surgical or FFP2 face mask during a resistance training session resulted in similar strength performance and physiological responses than the same exercise without a mask in persons with sarcopenia.
Highlights
Sarcopenia is a major clinical and public health problem in older people, with an overall worldwide prevalence of 10% that is rising [1]
Exercise should be considered a fundamental aspect of the treatment of pathological skeletal muscle mass reduction [2]; it is wellaccepted that physical exercise is one of the cornerstones for the prevention and treatment of sarcopenia [4], with resistance training being the most common treatment due to compelling evidence showing that it improves muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in older adults [5]
We found no difference in blood lactate concentration, rating of perceived exertion, and strength variables amongst the three evaluated conditions (Table 1)
Summary
Sarcopenia is a major clinical and public health problem in older people, with an overall worldwide prevalence of 10% that is rising [1]. Sarcopenia is a component of fragility syndrome and indicates a significant health issue related to a progressive decline in muscle tissue quality and strength [2] This progressive and generalized skeletal muscle disorder is associated with increased likelihood of adverse outcomes including falls, fractures, physical disability, and mortality [3]. The rapid deterioration produced by physical inactivity highlights the importance of physical exercise programs even during the pandemic and especially for populations with pathologies, such as persons with sarcopenia Acknowledging this previous information may be important in developing health- and physical-promotion programs during future periods of confinement
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