The Effects of Wearing a Face Mask During Exercise in Youth Hockey Players During COVID-19

Not Applicable

Completed

• Conditions: Hypoxemia
• Interventions: Other: Wingate exercise test and on-ice testing while wearing a sham face mask; Other: Wingate exercise test and on-ice testing while wearing a face mask

• Registration Number: NCT04874766
• Lead Sponsor: University of Saskatchewan

Brief Summary

There is concern that wearing a face mask during COVID will affect oxygen uptake, especially during intense exercise. COVID transmission is especially prevalent in sports such as hockey, where there is close contact between players and arena ventilation is poor. This study will assess the effect of wearing a surgical face mask on simulated hockey performance and blood and muscle oxygenation during cycling exercise.

Detailed Description

The sport of ice hockey involves close contact between players in poorly ventilated arenas. This increases susceptibility for transmission of viruses, such as COVID-19. Face masks can reduce the risk of virus transmission; however, 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 a surgical face mask during exercise that simulates ice hockey play on exercise performance and blood and muscle oxygenation in boys and girls. Twelve boys and twelve girls (age 9-14y) who are experienced playing hockey, will take part in this randomized cross-over study that will assess exercise performance, blood oxygenation (i.e. pulse oximetry) and muscle oxygenation (with near infrared spectroscopy) during an exercise test on a cycle ergometer with workloads and work to rest intervals that simulates hockey performance. Participants will also be tested for repeated-sprint performance on ice while wearing full hockey equipment. The conditions include no mask (a "sham" mask) and a surgical mask. Outcome variables include power output during the cycle ergometer testing, skating distance during the on-ice test, rating of perceived exertion, blood oxygen saturation levels, and oxygenated, deoxygenated, and total hemoglobin at the quadriceps muscle.

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2021-04-23
• Study First Submitted QC: 2021-05-02
• Study First Posted: 2021-05-06
• Study Start: 2021-05-28
• Primary Completion: 2021-07-15
• Study Completion: 2021-08-31
• Status Verified: 2021-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2021-10-19
• Last Update Posted: 2021-10-25

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 26

Inclusion Criteria

• Experience playing ice-hockey

Exclusion Criteria

• Contra-indications to exercise as identified by a screening questionnaire (the "Get Active Questionnaire")

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: CROSSOVER

Arm && Interventions

Group	Intervention	Description
Sham face mask	Wingate exercise test and on-ice testing while wearing a sham face mask	Simulated hockey period with 2x20s Wingate tests; progressive-intensity on-ice sprint test while wearing a sham mask
Surgical face mask	Wingate exercise test and on-ice testing while wearing a face mask	Simulated hockey period with 2x20s Wingate tests; progressive-intensity on-ice sprint test while wearing a surgical mask

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from baseline in average power output	Up to 40 seconds	Average power output in Watts during two 20 second Wingate tests

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Change from baseline in quadriceps tissue oxygenation index	Up to 40 minutes	Tissue oxygenation index (oxygenated hemoglobin/total hemoglobin) as measured by near infra-red spectroscopy
Change from baseline in rating of perceived exertion	Up to 40 minutes	Rating of perceived exertion on a scale of 1-10 (Modified Borg Scale), a higher score indicates a greater perceived exertion
Change from baseline in peak power output	Up to 40 seconds	Peak power output in Watts during two 20 second Wingate tests
Change from baseline in on-ice sprint testing distance	Up to 12 minutes	Distance in meters covered during a repeated 20-meter sprint test that progressively increases in speed
Change from baseline in blood oxygen saturation	Up to 40 minutes	Blood oxygen saturation (%) determined by pulse oximetry
Change from baseline in heart rate	Up to 40 minutes	Heart rate (beats per minute)

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Saskatchewan; 🇨🇦 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, Canada