Effects of a Face Mask on Oxygenation During Exercise

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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There is concern that wearing a face mask during COVID will affect oxygen uptake, especially during intense exercise. This study will assess the effect of wearing two different face masks (disposable and cloth) on blood and muscle oxygenation during cycling exercise.

Detailed Description
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There is concern that wearing a face mask during exercise will reduce oxygen uptake or increase carbon dioxide re-breathing, which can result in low blood oxygen levels, reduced oxygen delivery to muscle and reduced exercise capacity. The purpose of the study is to determine the effect of wearing two different types of commonly-worn face masks (diposable and cloth) during exercise on blood and muscle oxygenation. Twelve participants who are experienced with cycling will take part in this randomized cross-over study that will assess blood oxygenation (i.e. pulse oximetry) and muscle oxygenation (with near infrared spectroscopy) during a progressive step exercise test to exhaustion. The conditions include no mask, a disposable mask, and a cloth mask. Outcome variables include exercise duration, rating of perceived exertion, blood oxygen saturation levels, and oxygenated, deoxygenated, and total hemoglobin at the quadriceps muscle.

Official Title
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The Effects of Wearing a Face Mask During COVID-19 on Blood and Muscle Oxygenation While Performing Exercise

Conditions
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Hypoxemia

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Progressive cycling exercise test to exhaustion


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: Experienced with cycling 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: Treatment
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Active Comparator: No face mask<br>Progressive step-exercise cycling test to exhaustion wearing no face mask | Other: Progressive cycling exercise test to exhaustion<br>* Progressive step cycling exercise test to exhaustion<br>|
| Experimental: Disposable face mask<br>Progressive step-exercise cycling test to exhaustion wearing a 3-ply disposable face mask | Other: Progressive cycling exercise test to exhaustion<br>* Progressive step cycling exercise test to exhaustion<br>|
| Experimental: Cloth face mask<br>Progressive step-exercise cycling test to exhaustion wearing a cloth face mask | Other: Progressive cycling exercise test to exhaustion<br>* Progressive step cycling exercise test to exhaustion<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Time to exhaustion during exercise | time to exhaustion | Up to 20 minutes | 
| Change from baseline in peak power output | Peak power output in Watts, determined on a cycle ergometer | Up to 20 minutes | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Change from baseline in blood oxygen saturation | Blood oxygen saturation as determined by pulse oximetry | Up to 20 minutes | 
| Change from baseline in quadriceps tissue oxygenation index | Tissue oxygenation index (oxygenated hemoglobin/total hemoglobin) as measured by near infra-red spectroscopy | Up to 20 minutes | 
| 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 20 minutes | 
| Change from baseline in heart rate | Heart rate (beats per minute) | Up to 20 minutes |