Effects of face mask use on exercise during the covid-19 pandemic: the principal component analysis (PCA)

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic also raised questions about the practice of physical activity using a face mask and how this would affect breathing and performance. The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of using a tissue face mask recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) on the variation of heart rate (HR), minute volume (VE), and muscle O 2 saturation (SO 2 m) parameters during performing the incremental load exercise and verifying the maximum time obtained at the end of the exercise. A 21-year-old male, 85 kg of total body mass and 1.68 m of height were selected. The individual performed an incremental load test to maximum exhaustion on the XT cycle ergometer (TRG Fitness ®️ ) in two moments: No mask -Control (C); Cloth Mask (CM). The individual was instructed to maintain a cadence of 61-65 rpm and every 2 minutes a load of 30.8 watts was added until maximum exhaustion. A ventilometer VO2 Pro (Cefise ®️ ) and a near infrared spectroscopy sensor (Moxy ®️ ) were used, placed in the vastus lateralis muscle of the right leg.Data were analyzed every 20% of the total time (20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100%) under conditions C and CM. The parameters of HR, VE and SO 2 m were monitored throughout the test and the data were statistically processed by a software (Origin Pro ®️ 3.226) using a multivariate analysis technique (Principal Component Analysis -PCA) to analyze interrelationships between the variables. In test condition C, an eigenvalue of 2.979 was observed with two variables (VE and SO 2 m) associated with greater variation (PC1). The maximum time obtained at the end of the test was 1535 seconds. In the CM condition, na eigenvalue of 2.881 was observed with two variables (HR and SO 2 m) associated with greater variation (PC1). The maximum time obtained at the end of the test was1330 seconds. It is concluded that the use of CM reduces VE variation, which may be associated with greater airflow resistance. The greatest variation observed in HR was due to the use of CM, impacting the delay in the appearance of the plateau. In addition, the use of a tissue mask recommended by the WHO reduces the maximum exercise time performed on the cycle ergometer in a healthy individual. These findings are useful for evaluating the effects of using CM in high-performance sports. Additional studies in the elderly and people with lung or heart disease are needed.