Effects of Wearing a Face Mask During CrossFit Exercise

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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Face masks are important for prevention of transmission and contracting viruses such as COVID-19. Gymnasiums have been identified as being susceptible to virus transmission; therefore, wearing face masks during exercise is important during pandemics. This study will evaluate performance and physiological stress during high-intensity exercise while wearing a face mask during Crossfit exercise training.

Detailed Description
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Face masks are important for prevention of transmission and contracting viruses such as COVID-19. Gymnasiums have been identified as being susceptible to virus transmission; therefore, wearing face masks during exercise is important during pandemics. This study will evaluate performance and physiological stress during high-intensity exercise while wearing a face mask during Crossfit exercise training. Twenty-four men and women will be randomly assigned to perform exercise during Crossfit exercise while wearing or not wearing a surgical face mask in a cross-over study. Two types of exercise sessions will be assessed: A high intensity interval session and a continuous exercise session. There will therefore be four exercise sessions evaluated in our randomized cross-over design: 1) high intensity exercise while wearing a face mask; 2) high intensity exercise with no face mask; 3) continuous exercise while wearing a face mask; 4) continuous exercise with no face mask. Outcome variables to be assessed include exercise performance during the sessions (total repetitions for pull-ups, push-ups, and squats during continuous exercise and total repetitions for box jumps during high-intensity exercise). Heart rate, rating of perceived exertion, and dyspnea will also be assessed throughout the exercise sessions.

Official Title
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The Effects of Wearing a Face Mask During COVID-19 on Performance and Intensity Markers During CrossFit Exercise

Conditions
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Dyspnea

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: High intensity interval training
* Other: Continuous exercise training


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Experienced with CrossFit exercise training Exclusion Criteria: Contra-indications to exercise as identified by a screening questionnaire (the Get Active Questionnaire)

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Prevention
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: high intensity interval training wearing a face mask<br>high intensity interval training wearing a face mask | Other: High intensity interval training<br>* High intensity interval training: 6 sets x 8 bench press, 10 pull-ups, and maximal number of box jumps (each set lasting 60 sec, with 4 minutes rest between sets)<br>|
| Active Comparator: high intensity interval training wearing no face mask<br>high intensity interval training wearing no face mask | Other: High intensity interval training<br>* High intensity interval training: 6 sets x 8 bench press, 10 pull-ups, and maximal number of box jumps (each set lasting 60 sec, with 4 minutes rest between sets)<br>|
| Experimental: continuous exercise training wearing a face mask<br>continuous exercise training wearing a face mask | Other: Continuous exercise training<br>* 5 pull-ups, 10 push-ups, and 15 body-weight squats, repeated for 30 minutes<br>|
| Active Comparator: continuous exercise training wearing no face mask<br>continuous exercise training wearing no face mask | Other: Continuous exercise training<br>* 5 pull-ups, 10 push-ups, and 15 body-weight squats, repeated for 30 minutes<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline in box jumps | Number of box jump repetitions during high intensity exercise | Up to 30 minutes | 
| Change from baseline in pull-up, push-up, and squat repetitions | Number of repetitions performed for pull-ups, push-ups, and squats | Up to 30 minutes | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline in rating of perceived exertion | Rating of perceived exertion on a scale of 1-10 (Modified Borg Scale), a higher score indicates a greater perceived exertion | Up to 30 minutes | 
| Change from baseline in heart rate | Heart rate (beats per minute) | Up to 30 minutes | 
| Change from baseline in dyspnea | Dyspnea scale (0-10), a higher score indicates increased dyspnea | Up to 30 minutes |