The Effect of Use of Medical Masks on Exercise Capacity and Leg Endurance in Youth
Condition: Healthy Young People
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The use of masks has become an important part of life in outbreak conditions. In order to
      prevent the spread of the outbreak, many people in society may have to wear masks for hours
      during the day. As a mask type, the medical mask is frequently preferred in society. There
      are limited studies on how the use of medical masks affects the person wearing the mask while
      performing various activities that require different energy needs during the day. Therefore,
      this study aims to investigate how the use of medical mask affects exercise capacity and leg
      endurance with simple field tests.
    

Detailed description: 
      Medical masks in use today are disposable and consist of three or four fine to very fine
      fibers. Medical masks are divided into three groups as type I, type II, and type IIR
      according to performance requirements. It is generally recommended for type I patients, type
      II, and type IIR healthcare professionals. The fact that many people in society use medical
      masks for hours in the current outbreak conditions and it is not known how long this
      situation will last suggests that the effects of the medical mask should be investigated
      further. This study was designed to investigate the effects use of a medical mask on exercise
      capacity and lower extremity endurance in young people. In the analysis using the G * Power
      3.1.9.7 program, the sample size was calculated as 79 when the power ratio was at least 85%
      and the alpha error rate was 0.05. Participants included in the study will perform 3 field
      tests. Tests will be performed in the form of 30 seconds sit-to-stand test, incremental
      shuttle walk test (ISWT), and 6-minute walk test (6 MWT), respectively. Participants will
      come to the working place for 2 days to be evaluated. In this process, they will perform
      field tests one day with a medical mask and the other day without a mask. Whether the field
      tests to be performed on the first day will be with or without a medical mask will be decided
      through randomization. The tests to be made in the second visit will be carried out within 10
      days with the time of the previous test, environmental conditions, and test sequence. The
      mask to be used in tests is a type I medical mask recommended for general public health in
      outbreak situations. The mask has three layers. During the study, the mask will be replaced
      with a new one at the end of each test. Also, mask-wearing comfort at rest, during daily
      living activities, and after ISWT will be evaluated with a 10-item scale. In the study,
      attention will be paid to precautions such as the researcher's use of a face shield and the
      protection of social distance in order to prevent the risk of contamination.
    

Intervention name(s): Medical mask; Field tests
Intervention type(s): Device; Other
Intervention description(s): Participants will carry out field tests one day wearing a medical mask and the other day without a mask.; Participants will perform 6 MWT and ISWT tests to determine their exercise capacity, and a 30-second sit and stand test to determine lower extremity endurance.
Intervention model: Single Group Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Basic Science
Keywords: exercise capacity; medical mask; lower extremity endurance; youth