A heat and moisture-exchanging mask impairs self-paced maximal running performance in a sub-zero environment
Purpose Heat-and-moisture-exchanging devices (HME) are commonly used by endurance athletes during training in sub-zero environments, but their effects on performance are unknown. We investigated the influence of HME usage on running performance at − 15 °C. Methods Twenty-three healthy adults (15 mal...
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Published in | European journal of applied physiology Vol. 121; no. 7; pp. 1979 - 1992 |
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Main Authors | , , , , , |
Format | Journal Article |
Language | English |
Published |
Berlin/Heidelberg
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
2021
Springer Nature B.V Springer |
Subjects | |
Online Access | Get full text |
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Summary: | Purpose
Heat-and-moisture-exchanging devices (HME) are commonly used by endurance athletes during training in sub-zero environments, but their effects on performance are unknown. We investigated the influence of HME usage on running performance at − 15 °C.
Methods
Twenty-three healthy adults (15 male, 8 female; age 18–53 years;
V
˙
O
2
p
e
a
k
men 56 ± 7, women 50 ± 4 mL·kg
−1
·min
−1
) performed two treadmill exercise tests with and without a mask-style HME in a randomised, crossover design. Participants performed a 30-min submaximal warm-up (SUB), followed by a 4-min maximal, self-paced running time-trial (TT). Heart rate (HR), respiratory frequency (
f
R
), and thoracic area skin temperature (
T
sk
) were monitored using a chest-strap device; muscle oxygenation (SmO
2
) and deoxyhaemoglobin concentration ([HHb]) were derived from near-infra-red-spectroscopy sensors on
m. vastus lateralis
; blood lactate was measured 2 min before and after the TT.
Results
HME usage reduced distance covered in the TT by 1.4%, despite similar perceived exertion, HR,
f
R
, and lactate accumulation. The magnitude of the negative effect of the HME on performance was positively associated with body mass (
r
2
= 0.22). SmO
2
and [HHb] were 3.1% lower and 0.35 arb. unit higher, respectively, during the TT with HME, and
T
sk
was 0.66 °C higher during the HME TT in men. HR (+ 2.7 beats·min
−1
) and
T
sk
(+ 0.34 °C) were higher during SUB with HME. In the male participants, SmO
2
was 3.8% lower and [HHb] 0.42 arb. unit higher during SUB with HME.
Conclusion
Our findings suggest that HME usage impairs maximal running performance and increases the physiological demands of submaximal exercise. |
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Bibliography: | ObjectType-Article-2 SourceType-Scholarly Journals-1 ObjectType-News-1 ObjectType-Feature-3 content type line 23 European Journal of Applied Physiology Communicated by Westerterp/Westerblad. |
ISSN: | 1439-6319 1439-6327 1439-6327 |
DOI: | 10.1007/s00421-021-04666-9 |