Determining the effect of medical masks on maximal aerobic endurance in trained individuals

Abstract

Purpose: With the rapid increase in respiratory illnesses and pollution, face masks such as clothe masks, N95 masks, and surgical masks are becoming increasingly more common in everyday life. The recent SARS-CoV-2 outbreak has led to the exponential worldwide use of these masks in everyday activities. However, little is known about the effects of these masks on maximal oxygen consumption during exhaustive exercise. Methods: 11 Athletic individuals and 7 recreational individuals were recruited and took part in the 20 m shuttle run test, also known as the “beep test”, while wearing surgical masks and N95 masks. Maximal oxygen consumption was quantified by measuring Level, heart rate, and rate of fatigue. These parameters were statistically analyzed to yield VO2 max, but rate of fatigue did not contribute to the quantification of VO2 max. Results: Our results showed a significant slight decrease of 3.2% upon reaching VO2 max while heart rates and level of fatigue showed no significant difference. Conclusion: Equipping a surgical mask while performing maximal endurance exercise significantly decreased VO2 max and affected performance without affecting the other parameters measured.