Purpose: Heat-and-moisture-exchanging devices (HME) are commonly used by endurance athletes during training in sub-zero environments, but their effects on performance are unknown. We investigated the influence of HME usage on running performance at − 15 °C. Methods: Twenty-three healthy adults (15 male, 8 female; age 18–53 years; V˙ O 2peak men 56 ± 7, women 50 ± 4 mL·kg−1·min−1) performed two treadmill exercise tests with and without a mask-style HME in a randomised, crossover design. Participants performed a 30-min submaximal warm-up (SUB), followed by a 4-min maximal, self-paced running time-trial (TT). Heart rate (HR), respiratory frequency (fR), and thoracic area skin temperature (Tsk) were monitored using a chest-strap device; muscle oxygenation (SmO2) and deoxyhaemoglobin concentration ([HHb]) were derived from near-infra-red-spectroscopy sensors on m. vastus lateralis; blood lactate was measured 2 min before and after the TT. Results: HME usage reduced distance covered in the TT by 1.4%, despite similar perceived exertion, HR, fR, and lactate accumulation. The magnitude of the negative effect of the HME on performance was positively associated with body mass (r2 = 0.22). SmO2 and [HHb] were 3.1% lower and 0.35 arb. unit higher, respectively, during the TT with HME, and Tsk was 0.66 °C higher during the HME TT in men. HR (+ 2.7 beats·min−1) and Tsk (+ 0.34 °C) were higher during SUB with HME. In the male participants, SmO2 was 3.8% lower and [HHb] 0.42 arb. unit higher during SUB with HME. Conclusion: Our findings suggest that HME usage impairs maximal running performance and increases the physiological demands of submaximal exercise.
CITATION STYLE
Tutt, A. S., Persson, H., Andersson, E. P., Ainegren, M., Stenfors, N., & Hanstock, H. G. (2021). A heat and moisture-exchanging mask impairs self-paced maximal running performance in a sub-zero environment. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 121(7), 1979–1992. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-021-04666-9
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