Changes in heart rate, performance or additional symptoms during exercise
fatigue, dizziness, cramping, breathlessness, skin irritation, headache
There was no difference in heart rate at any time point comparing the three types of mask to no mask (Among the subgroups with SaOA post hoc sensitivity analysis excluding the one person who rowed rather than ran did not significantly alter the results for change in SaOAcross participants, there was no significant difference in average speed or distance travelled when comparing any of the face masks to no mask, confirming participants had been able to exercise at a fairly consistent speed between bouts of exercise (Comparison of average distance travelled and speed while wearing different types of face mask compared with no maskFFP, filtering face piece.The most common symptoms participants reported feeling wearing a face mask during exercise were increased breathlessness (n=13, 18%), dizziness (n=7, 10%), ‘other’ symptoms (n=7, 10%) and fatigue (n=6, 8%). The ‘other’ symptoms recorded as free-text comments were feeling light-headed, facial discomfort, skin irritation, a runny nose, pressure in the eyes, cramping and a stitch. Four participants found wearing a mask claustrophobic and one developed a headache. No participants reported feeling anxious or drowsy and none had to stop during exercise due to side effects.