Received: 2025/03/3 | Accepted: 2025/04/13 | Published: 2025/04/21
URL: http://ijwph.ir/article-1-1564-en.html
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2- Department of Physiotherapy, M. Kandiah Faculty of Medical and Health Sciences, Tunku Abdul Rahman University, Petaling Jaya, Malaysia
3- Centre for Advance Lung diseases and Lung transplant, Kovai Medical Center and Hospitals, Coimbatore, India
4- Department of Physiotherapy, PPG College of Physiotherapy, The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, Chennai, India
Aims: The widespread adoption of prolonged use of medical facial masks became particularly prevalent to prevent infectious respiratory diseases. Nevertheless, there is a paucity of information regarding the physiological effects of various types of facial masks on the cardiorespiratory functions of older individuals during physical exercise. The current study aimed to examine the physiological effects of different face masks on older adults’ cardiopulmonary efficiency during exercise.
Instrument & Methods: Twenty-six healthy older adults were assessed under no mask, disposable 3-ply surgical mask, disposable N95 mask, and cloth mask conditions, in random order. The participant’s blood pressure, SpO2 levels, heart rate, respiratory rate, distance traversed, and pulmonary function were measured at baseline and following a 6-minute walk test for each condition.
Findings: There were no statistically significant changes in the outcomes as a result of the participants’ use of different masks. However, reductions in SpO2 levels were observed upon completion of the 6-minute walk test while wearing the N95 mask.
Conclusion: Wearing masks during moderate-intensity physical activity has no significant impact on blood pressure, heart rate, or pulmonary function.