Performing moderate to severe activity is safe and tolerable for healthy youth while wearing a cloth facemask

• Published in: PloS one 2023-01, Vol.18 (3)
• Main Authors: Felipe Miguel Marticorena, Gabriel Castanho Barreto, Natália Mendes Guardieiro, Gabriel Perri Esteves, Tamires Nunes Oliveira, Luana Farias de Oliveira, Ana Lucia de Sá Pinto, Luiz Riani, Danilo Mendes Prado, Bryan Saunders, Bruno Gualano
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 1932-6203

Objective To investigate if a cloth facemask could affect physiological and perceptual responses to exercise at distinct exercise intensities in healthy young individuals. Methods Nine participants (sex, female/male: 6/3; age: 13±1 years; VO2peak: 44.5±5.5 mL/kg/min) underwent a progressive square-wave test at four intensities: (1) 80% of ventilatory anaerobic threshold (VAT), (2) VAT, and (3) 40% between VAT and Results Mask did not affect spirometry (forced vital capacity, peak expiratory flow, forced expiratory volume; all p≥0.27), respiratory (inspiratory capacity, end-expiratory volume [EELV] to functional vital capacity ratio, EELV, respiratory frequency [Rf], tidal volume [VT], Rf/VT, end-tidal carbo dioxide pressure, ventilatory equivalent to carbon dioxide ratio; all p≥0.196), hemodynamic (heart rate, systolic and diastolic blood pressure; all p>0.41), ratings of perceived exertion (p = 0.04) or metabolic measures (lactate; p = 0.78) at rest or at any exercise intensity. Conclusions This study shows that performing moderate to severe activity is safe and tolerable for healthy youth while wearing a cloth facemask. Trial registration ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT04887714.