Acute effects of different facemasks during High Intensity Interval Training in trained women. A randomized crossover pilot study

Abstract

The aim of the present investigation was to analyze the acute effect of different facemasks on physiological, perceptual and performance parameters in trained young women during a High Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) on cycle ergometer.

A total of fifteen subjects participated in the study. Heart rate variability, muscle oxygen saturation, lactate concentration and comfort parameters were measured under 3 conditions: no facemask, surgical and FFP2 facemask.

The use of facemasks had no effect on any variable related to oxygen saturation, heart rate variability and cycling power during the HIIT protocol. Only lactate concentration revealed significantly lower values in the No mask condition compared to FFP2 3 min after HIIT (p=0.038). Regarding the overall perception and comfort, participants reported greater discomfort when wearing the FFP2 mask compared to the No mask condition (p<0.05). On the contrary, the analysis of heart rate variability, revealed significant differences (p<0.001) in the Pre compared to the Post exercise for all conditions.

The use of surgical or FFP2 facemask during HIIT training does not affect performance during strenuous exercise while perceived comfort appears to be lower with FFP2 masks in physically trained women.