Abstract
Wearing face masks reduce the maximum physical performance. Sports and occupational activities are often associated with submaximal constant intensities. This prospective crossover study examined the effects of medical face masks during constant-load exercise. Fourteen healthy men (age 25.7 ± 3.5 years; height 183.8 ± 8.4 cm; weight 83.6 ± 8.4 kg) performed a lactate minimum test and a body plethysmography with and without masks. They were randomly assigned to two constant load tests at maximal lactate steady state with and without masks. The cardiopulmonary and metabolic responses were monitored using impedance cardiography and ergo-spirometry. The airway resistance was two-fold higher with the surgical mask (SM) than without the mask (SM 0.58 ± 0.16 kPa l−1 vs. control [Co] 0.32 ± 0.08 kPa l−1; p < 0.01). The constant load tests with masks compared with those without masks resulted in a significantly different ventilation (77.1 ± 9.3 l min−1 vs. 82.4 ± 10.7 l min−1; p < 0.01), oxygen uptake (33.1 ± 5 ml min−1 kg−1 vs. 34.5 ± 6 ml min−1 kg−1; p = 0.04), and heart rate (160.1 ± 11.2 bpm vs. 154.5 ± 11.4 bpm; p < 0.01). The mean cardiac output tended to be higher with a mask (28.6 ± 3.9 l min−1 vs. 25.9 ± 4.0 l min−1; p = 0.06). Similar blood pressure (177.2 ± 17.6 mmHg vs. 172.3 ± 15.8 mmHg; p = 0.33), delta lactate (4.7 ± 1.5 mmol l−1 vs. 4.3 ± 1.5 mmol l−1; p = 0.15), and rating of perceived exertion (6.9 ± 1.1 vs. 6.6 ± 1.1; p = 0.16) were observed with and without masks. Surgical face masks increase airway resistance and heart rate during steady state exercise in healthy volunteers. The perceived exertion and endurance performance were unchanged. These results may improve the assessment of wearing face masks during work and physical training.
Highlights
Wearing face masks reduce the maximum physical performance
The respiratory work were calculated from the peak flow and airway resistance (RAW) and showed significant differences (Co 3.0 ± 0.7 kPa vs. surgical mask (SM) 4.6 ± 1.2 kPa, p < 0.01, n2p = 0.71)
The average duration of double incremental cycle ergometer test (DIET) was 17:42 ± 2:42 min, and the participants reached an average Pmax of 300.7 ± 40.5 W, which corresponds to a relative power of 3.70 ± 0.63 W kg−1
Summary
Wearing face masks reduce the maximum physical performance. Sports and occupational activities are often associated with submaximal constant intensities. Surgical face masks increase airway resistance and heart rate during steady state exercise in healthy volunteers. The perceived exertion and endurance performance were unchanged These results may improve the assessment of wearing face masks during work and physical training. Abbreviations avDO2 Arteriovenous oxygen difference BP Blood pressure CO Cardiac output Co Control CW Cardiac work DIET Double incremental cycle ergometer test FetCO2 End-tidal fractional carbon dioxide concentration HR Heart rate LAC Blood lactate concentration LAC∆ Lactate concentration change over time MLSS Maximal lactate steady state SM Surgical mask PMAX Maximal power output RAW Airway resistance RR Respiratory rate SBP Systolic blood pressure SV Stroke volume SO2 Oxygen saturation Ti Inspiratory time. Though comparable, results were obtained with the use of mouthguards[13,14,15,16]
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