The effects of wearing surgical and N95 protective face masks on exercise capacity during the Rockport 1-Mile Walk Test

Abstract

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to analyze the effects of wearing surgical and N95 protective face masks on exercise capacity in apparently healthy, young individuals during the Rockport 1-Mile Walk Test, a submaximal exercise evaluation. Methods: Thirteen male and female participants completed three 1-mile walk tests: no mask (control), surgical mask, and an N95 mask. Walk time, heart rate (HR), Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), Rating of Perceived Dyspnea (RPD), oxygen saturation (SpO2), and predicted VO2max (Klein et al., 1987) were measured. Results: There were no significant differences in walk times, HR, RPE, SpO2, or predicted VO2max between mask conditions. There was a significant difference in RPD between conditions (p<0.05). RPD was significantly greater in N95 trials than in surgical or no mask trials. RPD was also significantly greater in surgical mask trials than no mask trials. Conclusion: The results of this study suggest that apparently healthy, young, and active individuals can safely perform submaximal aerobic exercise while wearing a face mask; however, they may experience an increase in dyspnea, which is greater while wearing an N95 mask.