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Face masks can be worn safely during strenuous exercise and could reduce the risk of the spread of Covid-19 in indoor gyms, preliminary results suggest.
Scientists from the Monzino Cardiology Center (CCM) in Milan and the University of Milan tested the respiratory rate, heart rate, blood pressure and oxygen levels of six women and men on exercise bikes, with and without mask.
Wearing a face mask reduced participants’ ability to perform vigorous exercise by about 10%, possibly because they had a little more trouble breathing through the mask, according to the article published in the European Respiratory Journal.
“This reduction is modest and, most importantly, it does not suggest a risk for healthy people who exercise with a face mask, even when they are working at their greatest capacity,” said Dr Massimo Mapelli. , cardiologist at the CCM. “Until more people are vaccinated against Covid-19, this finding could have practical implications in daily life, for example by potentially making it safer to open indoor gyms.”
More research needs to be done to see if the same holds true for people with heart or lung disease, scientists say.
The volunteers, made up of healthy individuals with an average age of 40, did three sets of exercises. One without a face mask, the other with a disposable surgical mask and the last with an FFP2 mask. The thicker FFP2 mask resulted in a 10% reduction in peak oxygen uptake and the surgical mask had a slightly lower impact, the researchers said.
Researchers are studying whether wearing a face mask affects people’s ability to perform daily activities such as housework or climbing stairs, examining healthy people as well as those with heart and lung disease.
Professor Sam Bayat, physiologist at Grenoble University Hospital, who was not involved in the research, said: “Although these results are preliminary and need to be confirmed with larger groups of people, they seem to suggest that masks can also be worn safely. for indoor sports and fitness activities, with a tolerable impact on performance. “
Gyms and other indoor fitness facilities are due to reopen in England after April 12. Current guidelines state that people do not need to wear a face mask when exercising, but should at other times when using indoor recreation facilities. The government’s digital, culture, media and sports department declined to comment on the Italian study.
A spokesperson for UK Active, which represents gyms and recreation centers, said the study was “limited” and much more research was needed before informing the practice. In the meantime, “people should continue to follow World Health Organization guidelines that recommend not wearing a face covering while exercising,” the spokesperson said.
“Gyms in the UK will be able to reopen safely thanks to the security measures already in place approved by Sage, which focus on social distancing, sanitization and ventilation – allowing visitors to return with confidence.
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