Mental, physical, and phychophysiological responses to FFP2/N95 face mask during HIIT in active women
Question
Does wearing an FFP2/N95 mask change metabolic, endocrine, physical-performance, attention, and perceived-fatigue responses during acute HIIT in active healthy women?
Summary
In 17 active healthy women, the same supervised indoor-cycling HIIT session was completed once with an FFP2/N95 mask and once without a mask. Wearing the mask increased alpha-amylase, Stroop selective-attention performance, and peripheral perceived exertion, while central perceived exertion was lower; lactate, cortisol, countermovement jump, and power output were not different between mask conditions.
Methodology
- 17 active healthy women with indoor-cycling experience.
- 17 participants.
- Stationary cycling with FFP2/N95 mask.
- Work intervals: 1 min 30 s.
- Recovery: 1 min 30 s active recovery.
- Intensity: 90-100% estimated HRmax during high-intensity bouts; 70 rpm cadence.
- 25 min HIIT procedure.
- One masked condition session.
- Acute crossover.
- Randomized counterbalanced within-subject crossover acute experiment
- Selective attention, Perceived exertion, and Physical performance were tracked.
Outcomes
Stroop
Stroop performance increased more with FFP2/N95 than no mask.
Mask effect F=10.846, p=0.005, partial eta squared=0.420.
RPE
Peripheral RPE was higher with mask, while central RPE was lower with mask.
Peripheral RPE p<=0.001 from measurement 2 onward; central RPE p<=0.008 from measurement 1 onward.
Performance
CMJ and calculated power output did not differ by mask condition.
CMJ p=0.226; power output p=0.239.
Insights
- Mask use during intense cycling may raise peripheral discomfort even when physical output is not measurably reduced.
- A 90 s on / 90 s active recovery indoor-cycling structure was reproducible under professional supervision.
Limitations
- Small sample
- Women only
- Acute crossover design
- Hormonal status not controlled
- Ventilatory and hematological responses not measured
Safety
- No adverse events or injuries were reported in the article.
- Participants were screened for recent physical or mental health problems.