Worried about how to work with a mask? A new study shows that exercising with a face mask does not cause a significant increase in body temperature or heart rate during exercise.
Researchers at the University of Connecticut tested four types of face masks: a surgical mask; an N95 respirator; a garter, which covers the neck and goes over the nose and mouth; And a sports mask.
The study, recently published in the journal Sports Health, showed that none of them had a significant increase in body temperature or heart rate compared to the group without the face mask.
Participants walked or jogged for 60 minutes in a 90 degree Fahrenheit environment at a low to moderate exercise intensity.
“Prior to this study, no one knew whether wearing a mask in the summer would put additional stress on the person exercising. While we know that masks are important to prevent the transmission of COVID-19, we did not know that in the heat Exercising with a mask, where your body is already managing the added stress, will affect safety,” said Ayami Yoshihara, director of sport safety at UConn’s Corey Stringer Institute.
Yoshihara and his team also measured the humidity and temperature inside and outside the face mask. They placed a sensor on the faces of the participants on the inside and outside of the face mask.
They found that sport masks and gaiters became significantly more humid as the material absorbed more sweat and water vapor from the outside air.
While participants reported a greater degree of shortness of breath during exercise with the face mask due to changes in the humidity and temperature inside the mask, there was no association between reported discomfort and measurements of body temperature and heart rate. There was no relation.
Yoshihara hopes this research can help shape guidelines for athletes who exercise and compete during the summer and fall, while ambient temperatures are still high.
“It is possible and safe to use a mask during low- to moderate-intensity exercise in the summer,” Yoshihara said.
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