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

ObjectiveTo investigate if a cloth facemask could affect physiological and perceptual responses to exercise at distinct exercise intensities in healthy young individuals. MethodsNine 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 _VO2peak wearing a triple-layered cloth facemask or not. Participants then completed a final stage to exhaustion at a running speed equivalent to the maximum achieved during the cardio-respiratory exercise test (Peak). Physiological, metabolic, and perceptual measures were measured. ResultsMask 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. ConclusionsThis study shows that performing moderate to severe activity is safe and tolerable for healthy youth while wearing a cloth facemask.