Face masks are important for prevention of transmission and contracting viruses such as COVID-19. Gymnasiums have been identified as being susceptible to virus transmission; therefore, wearing face masks during exercise is important during pandemics. This study will evaluate performance and physiological stress during high-intensity exercise while wearing a face mask during Crossfit exercise training.
Face masks are important for prevention of transmission and contracting viruses such as COVID-19. Gymnasiums have been identified as being susceptible to virus transmission; therefore, wearing face masks during exercise is important during pandemics. This study will evaluate performance and physiological stress during high-intensity exercise while wearing a face mask during Crossfit exercise training. Twenty-four men and women will be randomly assigned to perform exercise during Crossfit exercise while wearing or not wearing a surgical face mask in a cross-over study. Two types of exercise sessions will be assessed: A high intensity interval session and a continuous exercise session. There will therefore be four exercise sessions evaluated in our randomized cross-over design: 1) high intensity exercise while wearing a face mask; 2) high intensity exercise with no face mask; 3) continuous exercise while wearing a face mask; 4) continuous exercise with no face mask. Outcome variables to be assessed include exercise performance during the sessions (total repetitions for pull-ups, push-ups, and squats during continuous exercise and total repetitions for box jumps during high-intensity exercise). Heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and dyspnea will also be assessed throughout the exercise sessions.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
PREVENTION
Masking
SINGLE
High intensity interval training: 6 sets x 8 bench press, 10 pull-ups, and maximal number of box jumps (each set lasting 60 sec, with 4 minutes rest between sets)
5 pull-ups, 10 push-ups, and 15 body-weight squats, repeated for 30 minutes
University of Saskatchewan
Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada
Change from baseline in box jumps
Number of box jump repetitions during high intensity exercise
Time frame: Up to 30 minutes
Change from baseline in pull-up, push-up, and squat repetitions
Number of repetitions performed for pull-ups, push-ups, and squats
Time frame: Up to 30 minutes
Change from baseline in rating of perceived exertion
Rating of perceived exertion on a scale of 1-10 (Modified Borg Scale), a higher score indicates a greater perceived exertion
Time frame: Up to 30 minutes
Change from baseline in heart rate
Heart rate (beats per minute)
Time frame: Up to 30 minutes
Change from baseline in dyspnea
Dyspnea scale (0-10), a higher score indicates increased dyspnea
Time frame: Up to 30 minutes
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