Study: Surgical face mask use does not affect performance of youth hockey players

Surgical face mask use does not affect performance of youth hockey players, study finds
A combination of on-ice and off-ice testing was conducted during the study to assess the effects of wearing a face mask during different levels of exercise intensity. Credit: Phil Chilibeck

Ice hockey has been linked to the spread of COVID-19 in the sports community—including among youth—with multiple case transmissions in the past year being attributed to infected players exposing their teammates to the virus.

Children under the age of 12 are currently unable to receive a COVID-19 vaccine in Canada. As youth return to their fall and , it is vitally important to find effective ways to prevent them from becoming infected or spreading COVID-19 to other vulnerable populations.

"COVID spread is very prevalent during ice hockey because of close contact between players, heavy breathing during play, and poor ventilation of arenas," said Dr. Phil Chilibeck (Ph.D.), a co-author of the study.

To determine if wearing a during play affected performance, the interdisciplinary USask College of Kinesiology, College of Pharmacy and Nutrition, and School of Rehabilitation Science research team assessed physiological factors including heart rate and in the blood and muscles, as well as players' perceived levels of fatigue.

The heart rate and oxygen levels of both male and female youth players were measured at different levels of exercise intensity both on and off the ice. One group of youth wore a full while the other wore an adapted version that did not cover the nose or mouth.

"We found that wearing a face mask had no effect on high-intensity exercise performance simulating a hockey shift in boy and girl hockey players who were 9–14 years old," said Chilibeck.

Study findings also indicated that wearing a surgical face mask had no clinically significant impact on heart rate or oxygen saturation levels in male or female players.

These findings are similar to the results of other studies that evaluated face mask use and physical exercise—there is generally no difference in or oxygen saturation in children or adults partaking in exercise while wearing a face mask.

"We hope the findings can encourage players—especially those who are unvaccinated—to wear face masks during hockey to reduce the spread of COVID," said Chilibeck.

More information: Keely A. Shaw et al, Wearing a Surgical Face Mask Has Minimal Effect on Performance and Physiological Measures during High-Intensity Exercise in Youth Ice-Hockey Players: A Randomized Cross-Over Trial, International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (2021). DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182010766

Citation: Study: Surgical face mask use does not affect performance of youth hockey players (2021, October 20) retrieved 29 March 2024 from https://medicalxpress.com/news/2021-10-surgical-mask-affect-youth-hockey.html
This document is subject to copyright. Apart from any fair dealing for the purpose of private study or research, no part may be reproduced without the written permission. The content is provided for information purposes only.

Explore further

Researchers find face masks don't hinder breathing during exercise

16 shares

Feedback to editors