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Purpose <p>Ongoing concerns have been raised about wearing face masks during exercise, yet large-scale experimental studies, particularly conducted under heat, are lacking. We aimed to investigate the effects of wearing a surgical face mask during exercise on cardiac biomarkers, respiratory function, and perceptual responses in a hot and humid condition at various intensities.</p> Methods <p>A total of 98 participants (mean age, 20.4&#xa0;years; 29 women) completed six separate experimental trials in a randomized order that consisted of exercising on a treadmill at light, moderate, or vigorous intensity with or without a surgical face mask (each trial, 15&#xa0;min), in a climatic chamber set at 30 ± 1 ℃ and 70 ± 3% humidity. Cardiorespiratory and perceptual responses were measured pre- and post-exercise, continuously during exercise, and post-exercise only.</p> Results <p>Cardiac biomarkers including creatine kinase myocardial band (CK-MB), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, and troponin T values were higher at post-exercise, with CK-MB higher following high-intensity than light-intensity exercise, despite no significant effects of mask use. Similarly, blood pressure, lactate, and flow-mediated dilation levels, as well as mean value of forehead temperature, core-temperature, heart rate, and respiratory exchange ratio showed no significant difference with or without surgical face mask, although these values were generally higher at higher intensities and/or significantly increased post-exercise. Most respiratory parameters and perceived discomfort levels tended to show negative effects post-exercise with a surgical face mask under this condition.</p> Conclusion <p>Wearing a surgical face mask for 15&#xa0;min during exercise in hot and humid conditions had limited effects on cardio-related parameters but significantly affected respiratory function and increased discomfort, particularly at high intensities.</p> Trial registration <p>This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (#ChiCTR2100053144).</p>

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Effects of wearing a surgical face mask on cardiac biomarkers, respiratory function, and perceptual responses during exercise in a hot and humid climate at different intensities: a randomized crossover trial

  • 期刊论文

  • 出版模式：

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  • 发表日期：

    2026年2月3日

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  • Chen Zheng,
  • Eric Tsz-Chun Poon,
  • Jing-Lin Huang,
  • Ke-Wen Wan,
  • Feng-Hua Sun,
  • Cindy Hui-Ping Sit,
  • Martin Chi-Sang Wong,
  • Jun-Hao Huang,
  • Stephen Heung-Sang Wong

摘要

Purpose

Ongoing concerns have been raised about wearing face masks during exercise, yet large-scale experimental studies, particularly conducted under heat, are lacking. We aimed to investigate the effects of wearing a surgical face mask during exercise on cardiac biomarkers, respiratory function, and perceptual responses in a hot and humid condition at various intensities.

Methods

A total of 98 participants (mean age, 20.4 years; 29 women) completed six separate experimental trials in a randomized order that consisted of exercising on a treadmill at light, moderate, or vigorous intensity with or without a surgical face mask (each trial, 15 min), in a climatic chamber set at 30 ± 1 ℃ and 70 ± 3% humidity. Cardiorespiratory and perceptual responses were measured pre- and post-exercise, continuously during exercise, and post-exercise only.

Results

Cardiac biomarkers including creatine kinase myocardial band (CK-MB), N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide, and troponin T values were higher at post-exercise, with CK-MB higher following high-intensity than light-intensity exercise, despite no significant effects of mask use. Similarly, blood pressure, lactate, and flow-mediated dilation levels, as well as mean value of forehead temperature, core-temperature, heart rate, and respiratory exchange ratio showed no significant difference with or without surgical face mask, although these values were generally higher at higher intensities and/or significantly increased post-exercise. Most respiratory parameters and perceived discomfort levels tended to show negative effects post-exercise with a surgical face mask under this condition.

Conclusion

Wearing a surgical face mask for 15 min during exercise in hot and humid conditions had limited effects on cardio-related parameters but significantly affected respiratory function and increased discomfort, particularly at high intensities.

Trial registration

This study was registered in the Chinese Clinical Trial Registry (#ChiCTR2100053144).