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Montandon ML, Haller S, Rodriguez C, Herrmann FR, Giannakopoulos P. Wearing a KN95/FFP2 facemask has no measureable effect on functional activity in a challenging working memory n-back task. Front Hum Neurosci 2024; 18:1374625. [PMID: 38770397 PMCID: PMC11103007 DOI: 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1374625] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/22/2024] [Accepted: 04/22/2024] [Indexed: 05/22/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction Wide use of facemasks is one of the many consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We used an established working memory n-back task in functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) to explore whether wearing a KN95/FFP2 facemask affects overall performance and brain activation patterns. We provide here a prospective crossover design 3 T fMRI study with/without wearing a tight FFP2/KN95 facemask, including 24 community-dwelling male healthy control participants (mean age ± SD = 37.6 ± 12.7 years) performing a 2-back task. Data analysis was performed using the FSL toolbox, performing both task-related and functional connectivity independent component analyses. Results Wearing an FFP2/KN95 facemask did not impact behavioral measures of the 2-back task (response time and number of errors). The 2-back task resulted in typical activations in working-memory related areas in both MASK and NOMASK conditions. There were no statistically significant differences in MASK versus NOMASK while performing the 2-back task in both task-related and functional connectivity fMRI analyses. Conclusion The effect of wearing a tight FFP2/KN95 facemasks did not significantly affect working memory performance and brain activation patterns of functional connectivity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marie-Louise Montandon
- Memory Center, Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Sven Haller
- CIMC—Centre d’Imagerie Médicale de Cornavin, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Surgical Sciences, Radiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
- Faculty of Medicine of the University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Radiology, Beijing Tiantan Hospital, Capital Medical University, Beijing, China
| | - Cristelle Rodriguez
- Division of Institutional Measures, Medical Direction, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - François R. Herrmann
- Department of Rehabilitation and Geriatrics, Geneva University Hospitals and University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
| | - Panteleimon Giannakopoulos
- Division of Institutional Measures, Medical Direction, Geneva University Hospitals, Geneva, Switzerland
- Department of Psychiatry, Faculty of Medicine, University of Geneva, Geneva, Switzerland
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Mezghani N, Ammar A, Boukhris O, Masmoudi L, Boujelbane MA, Ben Ayed R, Alzahrani TM, Hadadi A, Abid R, Ouergui I, Glenn JM, Trabelsi K, Chtourou H. The Impact of Wearing Different Face Masks on Vigorous Physical Exercise Performance and Perceived Exertion among COVID-19 Infected vs. Uninfected Female Students. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2023; 13:2709-2723. [PMID: 37998077 PMCID: PMC10670499 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe13110187] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/21/2023] [Revised: 10/28/2023] [Accepted: 11/12/2023] [Indexed: 11/25/2023] Open
Abstract
Under certain circumstances, masks are an effective and immediate solution to reduce the spread of viral infection. However, the impact of masks on the ability to perform vigorous exercise remains an area of concern. Primarily, this impact has been explored in healthy subjects, yielding contradictory findings, and little is known of it among COVID-19-infected individuals. This study examined the effects of surgical masks, N-95 masks, and unmasked conditions on the performance and perceived exertion (RPE) of infected vs. non-infected young women during high-intensity, repeated sprint exercise (5mSRT). Following a familiarization session, eighty-three (42 COVID-19-previously infected (PIG) and 43 non-infected (NIG)), female participants (age 20.02 ± 1.05 years, BMI 21.07 ± 2.1 kg/m2) were randomly assigned to one of three mask conditions: unmasked, surgical mask, or N95 mask. All participants attended three test sessions (i.e., one session for each mask condition) at least one week apart. At the beginning of each test session, data related to participants' physical activity (PA) and sleep behaviours during the previous week were collected. In each test session, participants performed the 5mSRT, during which performance indicators (best distance (BD), total distance (TD), fatigue index (FI) and percentage decrement (PD)) were collected, along with RPE. ANOVA indicated no significant main effects of Groups and Masks, and no significant interaction for Groups × Masks for BD, FI, PD, RPE and most sleep and PA behaviours (p > 0.05). For TD, the Groups × Mask interaction was significant (p = 0.031 and ƞp2 = 0.042). Posthoc analysis revealed, in the unmasked condition, there was no difference in TD between PIG and NIG (p > 0.05). However, when wearing a surgical mask, PIG covered lower TD compared to NIG (p < 0.05). Additionally, different types of masks did not affect TD in NIG, while PIG performed the worst using the surgical mask (p < 0.05). These results suggest post-COVID-19 individuals can maintain physical fitness through regular exercise (i.e., sport science curricula) in unmasked conditions, but not when wearing a surgical mask. Furthermore, the impact of different types of face masks on physical performance seems to be minimal, particularly in uninfected populations; future research is warranted to further explore this impact in post-COVID conditions.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nourhen Mezghani
- Department of Sport Sciences, College of Education, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; (N.M.); (T.M.A.); (A.H.)
| | - Achraf Ammar
- Department of Training and Movement Science, Institute of Sport Science, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55099 Mainz, Germany;
- Interdisciplinary Laboratory in Neurosciences, Physiology and Psychology: Physical Activity, Health and Learning (LINP2), UFR STAPS (Faculty of Sport Sciences), UPL, Paris Nanterre University, 39200 Nanterre, France
- High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia; (L.M.); (K.T.); (H.C.)
- Research Laboratory, Molecular Bases of Human Pathology, LR19ES13, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sfax, Sfax 3029, Tunisia;
| | - Omar Boukhris
- SIESTA Research Group, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia;
- Sport, Performance, and Nutrition Research Group, School of Allied Health, Human Services and Sport, La Trobe University, Melbourne 3086, Australia
| | - Liwa Masmoudi
- High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia; (L.M.); (K.T.); (H.C.)
- Research Laboratory, Education, Motricity, Sport and Health (EM2S), LR15JS01, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Ali Boujelbane
- Department of Training and Movement Science, Institute of Sport Science, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, 55099 Mainz, Germany;
- High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia; (L.M.); (K.T.); (H.C.)
- Physical Activity, Sport, and Health, UR18JS01, National Observatory of Sport, Tunis 1003, Tunisia
| | - Rayda Ben Ayed
- National Institute of Agronomy of Tunisia (INAT), University of Carthage-Tunis, 43 Avenue Charles Nicolle, El Mahrajène 1082, Tunisia;
- Laboratory of Extremophile Plants, Centre of Biotechnology of Borj-Cédria, B.P. 901, Hammam Lif 2050, Tunisia
| | - Turki Mohsen Alzahrani
- Department of Sport Sciences, College of Education, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; (N.M.); (T.M.A.); (A.H.)
| | - Atyh Hadadi
- Department of Sport Sciences, College of Education, Taif University, Taif 21944, Saudi Arabia; (N.M.); (T.M.A.); (A.H.)
| | - Rihab Abid
- Research Laboratory, Molecular Bases of Human Pathology, LR19ES13, Faculty of Medicine, University of Sfax, Sfax 3029, Tunisia;
| | - Ibrahim Ouergui
- High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, El Kef 7100, Tunisia;
- Research Unit, Sports Science, Health and Movement, University of Jendouba, El Kef 7100, Tunisia
| | - Jordan M. Glenn
- Department of Health, Exercise Science Research Center Human Performance and Recreation, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR 72701, USA;
| | - Khaled Trabelsi
- High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia; (L.M.); (K.T.); (H.C.)
- Research Laboratory, Education, Motricity, Sport and Health (EM2S), LR15JS01, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia
| | - Hamdi Chtourou
- High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax 3000, Tunisia; (L.M.); (K.T.); (H.C.)
- Physical Activity, Sport, and Health, UR18JS01, National Observatory of Sport, Tunis 1003, Tunisia
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Vinetti G, Micarelli A, Falla M, Randi A, Dal Cappello T, Gatterer H, Brugger H, Strapazzon G, Rauch S. Surgical masks and filtering facepiece class 2 respirators (FFP2) have no major physiological effects at rest and during moderate exercise at 3000-m altitude: a randomised controlled trial. J Travel Med 2023; 30:taad031. [PMID: 36881665 PMCID: PMC10481409 DOI: 10.1093/jtm/taad031] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/23/2022] [Revised: 02/21/2023] [Accepted: 02/24/2023] [Indexed: 03/09/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND During the COVID-19 pandemic, the use of face masks has been recommended or enforced in several situations; however, their effects on physiological parameters and cognitive performance at high altitude are unknown. METHODS Eight healthy participants (four females) rested and exercised (cycling, 1 W/kg) while wearing no mask, a surgical mask or a filtering facepiece class 2 respirator (FFP2), both in normoxia and hypobaric hypoxia corresponding to an altitude of 3000 m. Arterialised oxygen saturation (SaO2), partial pressure of oxygen (PaO2) and carbon dioxide (PaCO2), heart and respiratory rate, pulse oximetry (SpO2), cerebral oxygenation, visual analogue scales for dyspnoea and mask's discomfort were systematically investigated. Resting cognitive performance and exercising tympanic temperature were also assessed. RESULTS Mask use had a significant effect on PaCO2 (overall +1.2 ± 1.7 mmHg). There was no effect of mask use on all other investigated parameters except for dyspnoea and discomfort, which were highest with FFP2. Both masks were associated with a similar non-significant decrease in SaO2 during exercise in normoxia (-0.5 ± 0.4%) and, especially, in hypobaric hypoxia (-1.8 ± 1.5%), with similar trends for PaO2 and SpO2. CONCLUSIONS Although mask use was associated with higher rates of dyspnoea, it had no clinically relevant impact on gas exchange at 3000 m at rest and during moderate exercise, and no detectable effect on resting cognitive performance. Wearing a surgical mask or an FFP2 can be considered safe for healthy people living, working or spending their leisure time in mountains, high-altitude cities or other hypobaric environments (e.g. aircrafts) up to an altitude of 3000 m.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giovanni Vinetti
- Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
| | | | - Marika Falla
- Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto (TN), Italy
- Department of Neurology, General Hospital of Bolzano, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Anna Randi
- Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
- Center for Mind/Brain Sciences (CIMeC), University of Trento, Rovereto (TN), Italy
| | - Tomas Dal Cappello
- Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Hannes Gatterer
- Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
- Institute for Sports Medicine, Alpine Medicine and Health Tourism (ISAG), UMIT TIROL-Private University for Health Sciences and Health Technology, Hall in Tirol, Austria
| | - Hermann Brugger
- Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Giacomo Strapazzon
- Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
| | - Simon Rauch
- Institute of Mountain Emergency Medicine, Eurac Research, Bolzano, Italy
- Department of Anaesthesiology and Intensive Care Medicine, Hospital of Merano (SABES-ASDAA), Merano (BZ), Italy; Lehrkrankenhaus der Paracelsus Medizinischen Privatuniversität
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Glänzel MH, Barbosa IM, Machado E, Prusch SK, Barbosa AR, Lemos LFC, Schuch FB, Lanferdini FJ. Facial mask acute effects on affective/psychological and exercise performance responses during exercise: A meta-analytical review. Front Physiol 2022; 13:994454. [PMID: 36406998 PMCID: PMC9667098 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.994454] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/14/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: Face masks are widely used during the COVID-19 pandemic as one of the protective measures against the viral infection risk. Some evidence suggests that face mask prolonged use can be uncomfortable, and discomfort can be exacerbated during exercise. However, the acute responses of mask-wearing during exercise on affective/psychological and exercise performance responses is still a topic of debate. Purpose: To perform a systematic review with meta-analysis of the acute effects of mask-wearing during exercise on affective/psychological and exercise performance responses in healthy adults of different/diverse training status. Methods: This review (CRD42021249569) was performed according to Cochrane's recommendations, with searches performed in electronic (PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, SportDiscus, and PsychInfo) and pre-print databases (MedRxiv, SportRxiv, PsyArXiv, and Preprint.Org). Syntheses of included studies' data were performed, and the RoB-2 tool was used to assess the studies' methodological quality. Assessed outcomes were affective/psychological (discomfort, stress and affective responses, fatigue, anxiety, dyspnea, and perceived exertion) and exercise performance time-to-exhaustion (TTE), maximal power output (POMAX), and muscle force production] parameters. Available data were pooled through meta-analyses. Results: Initially 4,587 studies were identified, 36 clinical trials (all crossover designs) were included. A total of 749 (39% women) healthy adults were evaluated across all studies. The face mask types found were clothing (CM), surgical (SM), FFP2/N95, and exhalation valved FFP2/N95, while the most common exercises were treadmill and cycle ergometer incremental tests, beyond outdoor running, resistance exercises and functional tests. Mask-wearing during exercise lead to increased overall discomfort (SMD: 0.87; 95% CI 0.25-1.5; p = 0.01; I2 = 0%), dyspnea (SMD: 0.40; 95% CI 0.09-0.71; p = 0.01; I2 = 68%), and perceived exertion (SMD: 0.38; 95% CI 0.18-0.58; p < 0.001; I2 = 46%); decreases on the TTE (SMD: -0.29; 95% CI -0.10 to -0.48; p < 0.001; I2 = 0%); without effects on POMAX and walking/running distance traveled (p > 0.05). Conclusion: Face mask wearing during exercise increases discomfort (large effect), dyspnea (moderate effect), and perceived exertion (small effect), and reduces the TTE (small effect), without effects on cycle ergometer POMAX and distance traveled in walking and running functional tests. However, some aspects may be dependent on the face mask type, such as dyspnea and perceived exertion. Systematic Review Registration: [https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/prospero/display_record.php?ID=CRD42021249569], identifier [CRD42021249569].
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Affiliation(s)
- Marcelo Henrique Glänzel
- Biomechanics Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil,Biomechanics and Kinesiology Research Group, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil,*Correspondence: Marcelo Henrique Glänzel, ; Fábio Juner Lanferdini,
| | - Igor Martins Barbosa
- Biomechanics Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | - Esthevan Machado
- Biomechanics and Kinesiology Research Group, Federal University of Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil
| | - Samuel Klippel Prusch
- Biomechanics Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil,Graduate Program in Gerontology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Luiz Fernando Cuozzo Lemos
- Biomechanics Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil,Graduate Program in Gerontology, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil
| | | | - Fábio Juner Lanferdini
- Biomechanics Laboratory, Federal University of Santa Maria, Santa Maria, RS, Brazil,*Correspondence: Marcelo Henrique Glänzel, ; Fábio Juner Lanferdini,
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Slimani M, Paravlic A, Abazovic E, Znazen H, Bragazzi NL. Effect of facemask use on cognitive function during a maximal running aerobic fitness test. Front Physiol 2022; 13:912740. [PMID: 36246122 PMCID: PMC9557100 DOI: 10.3389/fphys.2022.912740] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/26/2022] [Accepted: 08/15/2022] [Indexed: 11/13/2022] Open
Abstract
Background: The aim of the present randomized, crossover study was to determine the physiological and cognitive function responses while wearing a facemask during a maximal running aerobic fitness test. Methods: Fourteen healthy, nonsmoking physical education students (age = 17.5 years, height = 1.72 m, body mass = 70.4 kg) volunteered to participate in this study. They carried out a 20 m multistage fitness test (MSFT) while wearing or not a cloth facemask on two separate occasions performed in random order. The “Rating of Perceived Exertion” (RPE) and the d2 test for visual attention were administered and assessed before and immediately after the MSFT for both conditions (with or without a facemask). Results: When wearing the facemask, the participants exhibited lower maximal aerobic speed (p = 0.039), VO2max (p = 0.039), distance covered during the MSFT (p = 0.057), and concentration performance (p < 0.001), when compared with the control situation (without facemask). Moreover, they made more errors compared with the control condition (p = 0.021). The use of a cloth facemask during maximal endurance running tests (such as the MSFT) reduced VO2max, and measures of cognitive performance as assessed by the test of focused visual attention (the d2 test). This data suggests avoiding using a cloth facemask during maximal aerobic fitness tests, and before any tasks that require a high level of visual attention.
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Affiliation(s)
- Maamer Slimani
- Postgraduate School of Public Health, Department of Health Sciences (DISSAL), Genoa University, Genoa, Italy
- Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Said, University of Manouba, Tunisia, North Africa
- *Correspondence: Maamer Slimani,
| | - Armin Paravlic
- Faculty of Sport, Institute of Kinesiology, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia
- Science and Research Centre Koper, Institute for Kinesiology Research, Koper, Slovenia
- Faculty of Sports Studies, Masaryk University, Brno, Czechia
| | - Ensar Abazovic
- Faculty of Sports and Physical Education, Sarajevo, Bosnia and Herzegovina
| | - Hela Znazen
- Department of Physical Education and Sport, College of Education, Taif University, Taif, Saudi Arabia
| | - Nicola Luigi Bragazzi
- Laboratory for Industrial and Applied Mathematics (LIAM), Department of Mathematics and Statistics, York University, Toronto, ON, Canada
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Blood gas levels, cardiovascular strain and cognitive performance during surgical mask and filtering face piece application. Sci Rep 2022; 12:9708. [PMID: 35690655 PMCID: PMC9188275 DOI: 10.1038/s41598-022-13711-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/20/2022] [Accepted: 05/26/2022] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Mask induced airway resistance and carbon dioxide rebreathing is discussed to impact gas exchange and to induce discomfort and impairments in cognitive performance. N = 23 healthy humans (13 females, 10 males; 23.5 ± 2.1 years) participated in this randomized crossover trial (3 arms, 48-h washout periods). During interventions participants wore either a surgical face mask (SM), a filtering face piece (FFP2) or no mask (NM). Interventions included a 20-min siting period and 20 min steady state cycling on an ergometer at 77% of the maximal heart rate (HR). Hemodynamic data (HR, blood pressure), metabolic outcomes (pulse derived oxygen saturation, capillary carbon dioxide (pCO2), and oxygen partial pressure (pO2), lactate, pH, base excess), subjective response (ability to concentrate, arousal, perceived exertion) and cognitive performance (Stroop Test) were assessed. Compared to NM, both masks increased pCO2 (NM 31.9 ± 3.3 mmHg, SM = 35.2 ± 4.0 mmHg, FFP2 = 34.5 ± 3.8 mmHg, F = 12.670, p < 0.001) and decreased pH (NM = 7.42 ± 0.03, SM = 7.39 ± 0.03, FFP2 = 7.39 ± 0.04, F = 11.4, p < 0.001) during exercise. The FFP2 increased blood pressure during exercise (NM = 158 ± 15 mmHg, SM = 159 ± 16 mmHg, FFP2 = 162 ± 17 mmHg, F = 3.21, p = 0.050), the SM increased HR during sitting (NM = 70 ± 8 bpm, SM = 74 ± 8 bpm, FFP2 = 73 ± 8 bpm, F = 4.70, p = 0.014). No mask showed any comparative effect on other hemodynamic, metabolic, subjective, or cognitive outcomes. Mask wearing leads to slightly increased cardiovascular stress and elevated carbon dioxide levels during exercise but did not affect cognitive performance or wellbeing.
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Braun-Trocchio R, Renteria J, Warfield E, Harrison K, Williams A. The Effects of Face Coverings on Perceived Exertion and Attention Allocation during a Stepping Task. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19116892. [PMID: 35682473 PMCID: PMC9180205 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19116892] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/25/2022] [Revised: 05/28/2022] [Accepted: 06/02/2022] [Indexed: 11/25/2022]
Abstract
The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted the entire world from lockdowns to various recommended restrictions including social distancing and wearing face coverings. In a safe environment, cardiovascular exercise is important for both physical health and mental health. The current study examined the effects of face coverings on rating of perceived exertion and attention allocation during an exertive stepping task. Participants completed a stepping task with a weighted vest at 20% of their bodyweight until volitional fatigue with a face covering (n = 23) or without a face covering (n = 31). Results revealed a non-significant difference (p = 0.25) in the duration of the stepping task (in seconds) between the no face covering (M = 455.81, SD = 289.77) and face covering (M = 547.83, SD = 285.93) conditions. Results indicated increases in perceived exertion (p < 0.001) and heart rate (p < 0.001) as time progressed across the four time points (i.e., 30 s, 1/3 time to exhaustion, 2/3 time to exhaustion, and exhaustion) in both conditions. No significant differences were found between the conditions for RPE (p = 0.09) and heart rate (p = 0.50). Participants wearing a face covering were more internally focused across the duration of the stepping task (p = 0.05). This study has relevance for applied practitioners implementing physical activity interventions that require face coverings.
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Pasqualetto MC, Tuttolomondo D, Gaibazzi N, Baratella MC, Casolino P, Stefani M, Reato S, Tattan E, Sorbo MD, Bigon L, Giada F, Nizzetto M, Ferrara C, Galiotto A, Scevola M, Rigo F. Safety of surgical masks during phisical activity evaluated with graded cycle ergometry test. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 2021; 62:846-850. [PMID: 34651611 DOI: 10.23736/s0022-4707.21.12814-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/08/2022]
Abstract
AIMS At the time of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic wearing surgical mask (SM) is recommended for the prevention of contracting or exposing others to airborne transmission of COVID-19. It is somewhat controversial whether wearing SM during exercise affects performance and health status and/or may influence the results. In order to give an answer we planned a prospective, randomized, crossover study to evaluate the effects of wearing a SM or no-SM in 33 (17 male) physically active helthy subjects during a graded exercise cycle ergometry test. METHODS The two tests were performed in random order in the same subjects. The participants were all tested the same day, after a recovery time of at least of one hour, in order to avoid interferences on physical performances. Arterial oxygen saturation, heart rate and arterial blood pressure were assessed throughout the exercise tests every step of two minutes, at the end of exercise, performed at the same time with and without mask. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS Wearing SM had no effect on performance, since the duration of cycle ergometry test with SM and without SM median, respectively, was 14.2, [lower-upper quartile 13.9-14.8] versus 14.3 [13.9-15.5] minutes, p=0.094, and median peak power was 150 W [150-180] versus 150 W [120-180] p=0.754. When expressed relative to peak exercise performance, no differences were found between wearing or not wearing SM regarding arterial oxygen saturation, or heart rate at any time during the exercise tests. Wearing SM during vigorous exercise had no detrimental effect on cardiovascular parameters, as well as on exercise metrics in all participants. No ventricular repolarization abnormalities and no arrhythmias were reported on the electrocardiograms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | | | - Nicola Gaibazzi
- Cardiology and Cardiac Imaging Department, Parma University Hospital, Parma, Italy
| | | | - Pietro Casolino
- Division of Cardiology, Dolo Hospital AULSS 3, Venice, Italy
| | - Maria Stefani
- Division of Cardiology, Dolo Hospital AULSS 3, Venice, Italy
| | - Stefania Reato
- Division of Cardiology, Dolo Hospital AULSS 3, Venice, Italy
| | - Elisa Tattan
- Division of Cardiology, Dolo Hospital AULSS 3, Venice, Italy
| | - Maria D Sorbo
- Division of Cardiology, Dolo Hospital AULSS 3, Venice, Italy
| | - Lucio Bigon
- Sport Medicine Division, Dolo Hospital AULSS 3, Venice, Italy
| | - Franco Giada
- Sport Medicine Division, Dolo Hospital AULSS 3, Venice, Italy
| | - Manuele Nizzetto
- Sub-Intensive Care COVID Unit in Pneumology, Dolo Hospital AULSS 3, Venice, Italy
| | - Chiara Ferrara
- Dolo Hospital AULSS 3 Venice, Non-critical COVID Area in Internal Medicine, Venice, Italy
| | - Alessandra Galiotto
- Dolo Hospital AULSS 3 Venice, Non-critical COVID Area in Internal Medicine, Venice, Italy
| | - Moreno Scevola
- Dolo Hospital AULSS 3 Venice, Non-critical COVID Area in Internal Medicine, Venice, Italy
| | - Fausto Rigo
- Division of Cardiology, Dolo Hospital AULSS 3, Venice, Italy
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