During the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, Does Wearing a Mask Improve or Worsen Physical Performance?

Silva, Paulo Roberto Santos; Greve, Júlia Maria D’Andréa; Pedrinelli, André

doi:10.1590/1517-869220202604esp001

Cited by 11 publications

(12 citation statements)

References 17 publications

(22 reference statements)

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“…Other studies conducted from the same point of view reported that doing exercise with a mask decreases the performance in the beginning; however, there will be an adaptation in the course of time. In addition using a mask for weeks or months increases the power of lung muscles and thus, the performance may increase if the mask is taken off because the lungs will receive more oxygen [23]. What is stressed here is the training applications under hypoxic conditions, which have proven to be useful in the resiliency development for many years.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological impact of wearing a surgical face mask during walking in the COVID-19 pandemic

Akgül

Özcan

Uzun

et al. 2021

ppcs

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Background and Study Aim. Common use of surgical face masks is recommended for social and individual health due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, there is no systematic report for responses of organism to wearing a surgical face mask during different exercises. In this context the purpose of this study was to examine the impacts of wearing a surgical face mask during a one-hour brisk walking. Material and Methods. A total of thirty male (n=16) and female (n=14) volunteers (mean age and BMI of 32±1.07 years and 25.1±0.68 kg/m2, respectively) completed the protocol. This was a multiple cross-over trial for healthy volunteers. All participants took a one-hour brisk walking with and without a surgical face mask. Specific physiological measurements (HR - heart rate; BP - blood pressure, SaO2 - arterial oxygen content) were compared before and immediately after two brisk walking. Each subject served their own control. Results. The evaluation found that there was no statistically significant difference between the mean HR and blood pressure values during the brisk walking with and without a surgical face mask, while there was a statistically significant difference in the SaO2 values on behalf of no-mask-walking (p<0.05). Conclusions. The use of surgical face masks in healthy volunteers causes a decrease in SaO2 during brisk walking. However, it does not affect the mean pulse rate and blood pressure. Although there was a statistically significant decrease in the SaO2 parameter during mask-walking, it is possible to state that brisk walking with a surgical face mask does not have a physiologically negative impact, because this decrease is in ranges that are accepted to be normal.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Physiological impact of wearing a surgical face mask during walking in the COVID-19 pandemic

Akgül

Özcan

Uzun

et al. 2021

ppcs

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

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“…Heavy respiratory protective equipment used by firefighters can affect the balance of the user ( 67 ), potentially increasing the risk of fall accidents. Effects on breathing and blood gases have been described: Santos-Silva et al ( 68 ) point to increasing resistance to air intake, lowering airflow into lungs, and causing temporary reduction in breathing rhythm. There may be symptoms related to hypercapnia ( 69 )–breathing and gas exchange ( 70 ).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Challenges and Controversies in COVID-19: Masking the General Population may Attenuate This Pandemic's Outbreak

Johansson

2021

Front. Public Health

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SARS-CoV-2, the virus that causes COVID-19, spreads i. a., by respiratory droplets. The use of masks in preventing spread is controversial; masks are considered useless by many, while being mandated in some locations. Here, the effect of masking the general population on a COVID-19-like epidemic is estimated by computer simulation using three separate types of software. The main questions are whether mask use by the general population can limit the spread of SARS-CoV-2 in a country and how to identify opportunities when mask use is cost-effective and safe. To address these questions, the protective effects of different types of masks, the side-effects of masks, and avenues for improvements of masks and masking are addressed. Main results: (i) Any type of mask, even simple home-made ones, may be of value, even if the protective effect of each mask (here dubbed “one mask-protection”) is low. Strict adherence to mask use does not appear to be critical but increasing one mask-protection to >50% was found to be advantageous. (ii) Masks do seem to reduce the number of new cases even if introduced at a late stage in an epidemic, but early implementation helps reduce the cumulative and total number of cases. (iii) The simulations suggest that it might be possible to eliminate a COVID-19 outbreak by widespread mask use during a limited period. There is a brief discussion of why the reported effect size of masking varies widely, and is expected to do so, because of different filtration abilities of different masks, differences in compliance and fitting, other routes of transmission, pre-existing immunity, and because a system of interconnected, disease-prone individuals has non-linear properties. A software solution to visualize infection spread is presented. The results from these simulations are encouraging, but do not necessarily represent the real-life situation, so it is suggested that clinical trials of masks are now carried out while continuously monitoring effects and side-effects. As mask use is not without risks and costs, it is suggested that governments and scientists have an important role in advising the public about the sensible use of masks.

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“…Face masks are an effective, non-pharmacological strategy to reduce SARS-CoV-2 transmissibility and infection [12][13][14][15][16][17][18][19]. Face masks can also prevent infections during sport, as Watson et al [20] reported that the use of face masks was associated with decreased COVID-19 incidence during sports.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effects of a taped filter mask on peak power, perceived breathlessness, heart rate, blood lactate and oxygen saturation during a graded exercise test in young healthy adults: a randomized controlled trial

Trefz

Schönfelder

et al. 2022

BMC Sports Sci Med Rehabil

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Background Face masks are an effective, non-pharmacological strategy to reduce the transmission of Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus-2 and other pathogens. However, it is a challenge to keep masks sealed during exercise, as ventilation can increase from 5 to 10 L/min at rest to up to 200 L/min so that masks may be blown away from the face. To reduce leakage e.g. during exercise, a face mask was developed that is taped onto the face. The aim of this study was to investigate during a graded exercise test the effect of a taped filter mask on the perception of breathlessness, heart rate, blood lactate concentration, and oxygen saturation when compared to a surgical mask and no mask. Methods Eight healthy trained participants (4 females), aged 24.5 ± 3.3 years performed graded exercise test until volitional exhaustion under three conditions: (1) No mask/control, (2) surgical mask or (3) taped filter mask. During these tests, we measured perception of breathlessness, heart rate, blood lactate concentration and peripheral oxygen saturation and analysed the resultant data with one or two-way repeated measures ANOVAs. We also used a questionnaire to evaluate mask comfort and analysed the data with paired t-tests. Results When compared to wearing no mask, maximal workload was significantly reduced with a taped filter face mask by 12 ± 6% (p < 0.001) and with a surgical mask by 3 ± 6% (p > 0.05). Moreover, subjects perceive the sensation of "severe breathlessness" at a 12 ± 9% lower workload (p = 0.012) with a taped face mask, and 7 ± 13% lower workload with a surgical mask (p > 0.05) when compared to wearing no mask. Oxygen saturation at 65% of the maximal workload is 1.5% lower (p = 0.018) with a taped mask than no mask. Heart rate and blood lactate concentration are not significantly different in-between no mask, surgical mask and taped mask at any workload. When compared to wearing a surgical mask, wearing a taped filter face mask has a significantly better wearing comfort (p = 0.038), feels better on the skin (p = 0.004), there is a lower sensation of moisture (p = 0.026) and wearers perceive that less heat is generated (p = 0.021). We found no sex/gender differences for any of the measured parameters. Conclusions A taped mask is well tolerated during light and moderate exercise intensity but reduces maximal exercise capacity.

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During the Coronavirus (Covid-19) Pandemic, Does Wearing a Mask Improve or Worsen Physical Performance?

Cited by 11 publications

References 17 publications

Physiological impact of wearing a surgical face mask during walking in the COVID-19 pandemic

Physiological impact of wearing a surgical face mask during walking in the COVID-19 pandemic

Challenges and Controversies in COVID-19: Masking the General Population may Attenuate This Pandemic's Outbreak

Effects of a taped filter mask on peak power, perceived breathlessness, heart rate, blood lactate and oxygen saturation during a graded exercise test in young healthy adults: a randomized controlled trial

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