Effects of Facemask on Cardiorespiratory Performance

Effects of Exercising With a Facemask on Cardiorespiratory Performance at Intensities Below and Above the Ventilatory Threshold

The purpose of the study is to explore whether using a surgical facemask impacts performance in response exercise below vs. above the ventilatory threshold (VT). The investigatores also aim to explore the impact of sexual dimorphism in the physiological response to exercise performed within these specific intensities. Finally, the onvestigators intend to examine whether the effects of wearing a facemask affect physiological recovery at cessation of exercise

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Facemask Impact on Cardiorespiratory Performance
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Protocol with Mask

Detailed Description

Tests will be carried out during the afternoon period (between 13.00 and 16.00 h), in a laboratory with an environmental temperature between 22 and 24 ºC and a relative humidity between 44 and 56%.

Each participant will be tested on 3 non-consecutive days. On the first day, a Graded Exercise Testin (GXT) will be performed, to measure VO2max and to enable the individualization of intensities according to the VT of each participant. (Silva et al., 2011). Then, in a randomized (computer generated algorithm) counterbalanced manner, all participants performed resting and standardized cycle-ergometer submaximal protocols on two different conditions (with and without facemask), within a 1-week period. On the first visit, body mass measurements will be taken, to the nearest 0.01 kg, on a digital scale (BG 42, Breuer GmbH, Söflinger, Germany) with the participants wearing light-weight clothes and no shoes. Measurements of standing height will be limited to the first visit and taken to the nearest 0.5 cm using a stadiometer. Body Mass index (BMI) will be calculated by dividing the participants' mass in kilograms by the square of their height in meters. Then, after a brief warm-up period, each participant will perform a maximal cycle-ergometer test consisting of a ramp protocol to volitional exhaustion.

One of our purposes is to determine the impact of exercising with a facemask on physiological recovery. For this reason, measurements, within each submaximal testing session (with and without a facemask), will be taken using a standardized timeline designed to allow measuring recovery postsubmaximal exercise and compare it with a resting baseline time point. Specifically, testing will begin with a 10-min resting period in the seated position (baseline). Subsequently, participants will exercise either without (control) or with (experimental) a surgical facemask at an intensity below the VT and recover for another 10 min. Then, each participant will exercise at an intensity above the VT until volitional exhaustion and this will be followed by 10 min of recovery.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 32
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Portugal
  • Cruz Quebrada
    • Oeiras, Cruz Quebrada, Portugal, 1495-751
      • Faculdade Motricidade Humana

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: 18 years to 30 years (Adult)
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: No
• Genders Eligible for Study: All

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Healthy 18 to 30 years old adults

Exclusion Criteria:

• Potential participants, with body mass index (BMI) > 24.9 kg.m2 will be excluded. Additional exclusionary criteria will include active smoking status, known metabolic disease, cardiovascular disease, respiratory disorders including asthma; and any orthopedic issues that would limit exercise performance.

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Basic Science
• Allocation: N/A
• Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

1

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: With Mask	Other: Protocol with Mask; Look at differences in group with facemask and no mask

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Differences in VO2max	Differences between the two groups in the vo2max and	1 week
Differences in Heart Rate	Differences between the two groups in the Heart Rate	1 week

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Faculdade de Motricidade Humana

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Jesus JP, Gomes M, Dias-Goncalves A, Correia JM, Pezarat-Correia P, Mendonca GV. Effects of surgical masks on the responses to constant work-rate cycling performed at different intensity domains. Clin Physiol Funct Imaging. 2022 Jan;42(1):43-52. doi: 10.1111/cpf.12734. Epub 2021 Nov 20.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): October 25, 2020
• Primary Completion (Actual): January 30, 2021
• Study Completion (Actual): April 29, 2021

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 28, 2021
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 5, 2021
• First Posted (Actual): July 15, 2021

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 15, 2021
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 5, 2021
• Last Verified: July 1, 2021

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Other Study ID Numbers: 23/2021

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No