Effects of surgical face masks on exercise performance and perceived exertion of exercise in well-trained healthy boys

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of surgical “everday” face masks on the physical performance and perceived exertion in trained eleven-year-old boys. No decrease in objective performance parameters was found in the aerobic and aerobic-anaerobic transition zones. However, at the maximum performance level with surgical face mask, there was a significant reduction in running time as well as a significant increase in the subjective perception of exertion with otherwise unchanged performance parameters. In summary, the use of surgical face masks in trained children does not affect athletic activities as long as the loads are performed primarily in the aerobic intensity range.