A new study shows that working out while wearing a mask won’t sabotage
your fitness goals.
By Jordan Smith
Nov 10, 2020

mask hinder performance study
David Jaewon Oh
* As the coronavirus continues to spread across the country, more
cities and states are adopting mask mandates.
* Many gyms and indoor training facilities require masks when working
out to help slow the spread of coronavirus and COVID-19.
* A new study published in the International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health found that wearing a mask
does not hinder performance or oxygen levels.
__________________________________________________________________

Though gyms and fitness studios have slowly reopened, that doesn’t mean
the spread of coronavirus is under control. To help mitigate the
spread, many gyms and indoor training facilities require clients to
wear masks or face coverings. The good news: Early research
suggests they don’t actually hinder your performance in terms of time
to exhaustion or peak power output, and had no discernible negative
effect on blood or muscle oxygenation levels, rate of perceived
exertion, or heart rate in young, healthy adults.

Researchers at the University of Saskatchewan gathered a small sample
of 7 men and 7 women, ranging from slightly inactive (not meeting the
Physical Activity Guidelines of 150 minutes of moderate to vigorous
activity per week in Canada) to elite cyclists and tested the effects
of wearing a three-layer cloth face mask, a surgical mask, and no mask
on their exercise performance. (The Association of American Medical
Colleges suggests that cloth masks should have at least two layers
whenever possible to be most effective.)

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The study participants started with a brief warm-up on a stationary
bike, then underwent a progressive-intensity exercise test, during
which they had to maintain the same pedal rate while the resistance was
continually increased until exhaustion, Phil Chilibeck, PhD, professor
at the University of Saskatchewan College of Kinesiology and co-author
of the study explained to Runner’s World. Heart rate, blood oxygen
saturation, and rate of perceived exertion were recorded every 30
seconds.
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Each of the three tests were done on a different day to allow full
recovery between tests, Chilibeck added. Additionally, participants
were required to maintain similar diet, sleep, and exercise
routines for 24 hours before each test.
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The results, published in the International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health found that wearing a mask had
no effect on performance or muscle oxygen levels. Since there was no
difference in time to exhaustion between conditions, the peak power
reached at the end of each test was similar in mask and no-mask
conditions for all participants, Chilibeck explained. Researchers also
did not see any effects of the masks during exercise on arterial
(blood) oxygen levels, which would decrease if breathing was affected.

And while droplet spread was not measured, all masks used were tested
in a previous study in which they were shown to effectively
minimize droplet spread, according to Chilibeck.
__________________________________________________________________

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__________________________________________________________________

Though the participants represented a wide range of fitness levels,
it’s important to note that these tests were conducted on a very small
sample size (just 14 young, healthy adults), and more research is
needed on larger populations to draw sweeping conclusions about the
general population.

Additionally, the study was performed on a stationary bike, where
participants exerted themselves for a maximum of 12 minutes. Stationary
bikes are commonly used in studies because they allow for more control,
but additional research on runners in particular for longer efforts
will be needed to understand how masks affect a sustained, sub-maximal
effort such as a half marathon or marathon.

Face coverings can make exercise feel more difficult for some, but that
perceived effect could be influenced by a number of factors including
psychosomatic elements, humidity, and prolonged intensity, but there is
no evidence they affect blood oxygen levels.

Still, this early research shows promising evidence that wearing a
mask has no discernible negative effect on performance yet provides
major benefits for slowing the spread of this deadly disease.

As Runner’s World previously reported, wearing a mask, maintaining
an ample distance between yourself and others, and washing you hands
regularly are some of the best ways to keep yourself and others
healthy.

“If people wear face masks during indoor exercise, it might make the
sessions safer and allow gyms to stay open during COVID,” Chilibeck
said in a news release.

Check your state and local guidelines for more details on community
spread and any restrictions in place in your area.
Jordan Smith Digital Editor Her love of all things outdoors came
from growing up in the Black Hills of South Dakota, and her passion for
running was sparked by local elementary school cross-country meets.
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