Effects of wearing a cloth face mask on performance, physiological and perceptual responses during a graded treadmill running exercise test

Abstract

Cloth face masks led to a 14% reduction in exercise time and 29% decrease in VO₂max, attributed to perceived discomfort associated with mask-wearing. Compared with no mask, participants reported feeling increasingly short of breath and claustrophobic at higher exercise intensities while wearing a cloth face mask. Coaches, trainers and athletes should consider modifying the frequency, intensity, time and type of exercise when wearing a cloth face mask.