A study done in October of last year by the University of Saskatchewan concluded that wearing a facemask does not hinder exercise performance. Researchers found no evidence that a mask compromises oxygen uptake or increases the rebreathing of carbon dioxide during strenuous exercise.
"Our findings are of importance because they indicate that people can wear face masks during intense exercise with no detrimental effects on performance and minimal impact on blood and muscle oxygenation," the researchers stated.
The study involved 14 physically active and healthy men and women, controlled for the effects of diet, previous physical activity, and sleep during the 24 hours prior to the test. Participants were required to do a brief warm-up on a stationary bike. The exercise test involved a progressive increase in the intensity on the bike while they maintained a required pedal rate. Once they could not sustain the pedal rate the test was over.
The researchers assessed the participants
once wearing a surgical face mask, once wearing a cloth face mask and
once with no face mask. The team recorded the participants' blood oxygen
levels and muscle oxygen levels throughout the test using non-invasive
measurement tools. No significant differences were detected.
"If people wear face masks during indoor exercise, it might make the sessions safer and allow gyms to stay open during COVID," said Phil Chilibeck, a professor in the USask College of Kinesiology, who was a co-author of the study. "It might also allow sports to continue, including hockey, where transmission of COVID-19 appears to be high."
Note that the study included only "physically active and healthy" individuals.
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