N-95 Masks Have No Effect on Spontaneous Physical Activity

Authors

Dalton LesserFollow
Jake Laufenberg
Zachary Zeigler, Grand Canyon UniversityFollow

Abstract

In recent years, the use of facemasks has greatly increased, especially due to the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic. Many individuals were required to wear a face mask for long durations. The impact of mask wearing on spontaneous physical activity (PA) is unknown. PURPOSE: This study seeks to determine if wearing an N-95 mask for extended duration would have any impact on spontaneous physical activity. METHODS: 12 total participants aged 18-21 yr. were recruited for this experimental cross-over study. Subjects reported to the lab twice, separated by one week, to receive a wrist-worn accelerometer. One condition was control (CON) and subjects did not wear masks. During the second condition, subjects wore an N-95 mask (MASK) for 10-h over the day. Starting condition was randomized for the first subject and the following subjects were assigned alternating starting conditions for a possible ordering effect. Subjects were asked to keep a food and drink log and asked to replicate the results during the second condition. The subjects wore the accelerometer for the entirety of the 10-h with activity counts being taken over 60-s epochs during both conditions. Time spent in sedentary, light, and moderate-to-vigorous PA was calculated according to Freedson 1998 cut-points. Data expressed as means ± SE. RESULTS: 12 college-aged(20.5 + 1.5 yr.) male (n=5) and female (n=7) healthy individuals completed the study. There was no statistically significant difference between conditions in the percent of time spent in sedentary (CON: 33.8 ± 25.2% vs. MASK: 33.7 ± 26.2%, P = .996), light (CON: 49.2 ± 20.7% vs. MASK: 48.9 ± 21.2%, P = .974), and moderate-to-vigorous (CON: 16.9 ± 8.7% vs. MASK: 17.4 ± 9.8%, P = .909), behaviors. CONCLUSION: The data suggest that wearing a mask for an extended period does not affect spontaneous PA.

Recommended Citation

Lesser, Dalton; Laufenberg, Jake; and Zeigler, Zachary (2023) "N-95 Masks Have No Effect on Spontaneous Physical Activity," International Journal of Exercise Science: Conference Proceedings: Vol. 14: Iss. 3, Article 72.
Available at: https://digitalcommons.wku.edu/ijesab/vol14/iss3/72