A new study shows that wearing a cloth mask while exercising is detrimental to your workout and your health. The research team at Baylor Scott & White Institute for Rehabilitation, in Frisco, Texas, found that study participants who wore a cloth mask while working out had a 14% drop in exercise time, a 29% drop in peak oxygen consumption and a reduced maximal heart rate.
Most other studies involving the effects of mask-wearing while exercising assessed surgical face masks, not cloth masks.
"Our results have several implications for training and performance while wearing a cloth face mask," the researchers said in a news release. They advised that people should try to modify the intensity, time and type of activity when they are wearing a mask and exercising.
SOURCE: Drugs.com April 14, 2021