Effects of cloth face masks on physical and cognitive performance during maximal exercise testing

Abstract

Wearing a cloth face mask has been shown to impair exercise performance; it is essential to understand the impact wearing a cloth face mask may have on cognitive performance. Participants completed two maximal cardiopulmonary exercise tests on a cycle ergometer (with and without a cloth face mask) with a concurrent cognitive task. Blood pressure, heart rate, oxygen saturation, perceived exertion, shortness of breath, accuracy, and reaction time were measured at rest, during each exercise stage, and following a 4-minute recovery period. The final sample included 35 adults (age = 26.1 ± 5.8 years; 12 female/23 male). Wearing a cloth face mask was associated with significant decreases in exercise duration (-2:00 ± 3:40 min, P = 0.003), peak measures of maximal oxygen uptake (-818.9 ± 473.3 mL/min, -19.0 ± 48 mL·min^-1·kg^-1, P < 0.001), respiratory exchange ratio (-0.04 ± 0.08, P = 0.005), minute ventilation (-36.9 ± 18 L/min), oxygen pulse (-3.9 ± 2.3, P < 0.001), heart rate (-7.9 ± 12.6 bpm, P < 0.001), oxygen saturation (-1.5 ± 2.8%, P = 0.004), and blood lactate (-1.7 ± 2.5 mmol/L, P < 0.001). While wearing a cloth face mask significantly impaired exercise performance during maximal exercise testing, cognitive performance was unaffected in this selected group of young, active adults.

Keywords: COVID-19; Cognition; VO2; face mask; max.

Figure 1.

Consolidated Standards of Reporting Trials diagram.

Figure 2.

Cognitive performance testing during a maximal cardiopulmonary exercise test on a cycle ergometer.

Figure 3.

Comparison of peak volume of oxygen consumption (VO₂) during the final 30 seconds of each cardiopulmonary exercise test stage in the masked and unmasked condition. Upper and lower error bars were included for participants who completed the respective trial under both masked and unmasked conditions. Only stages in which at least three participants completed the stage under both conditions were included.