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

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.