# Mental, physical, and phychophysiological responses to FFP2/N95 face mask during HIIT in active women

PMID: 37773935
Journal: PloS one
Published: 2023
Authors: Tannion K, De la Vega R, Horcajo J, Cuadrado-Peñafiel V

## 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.

## Population

- 17 active healthy women with indoor-cycling experience.
- Sample size: 17
- Age: 51.7 +/- 14.7 years
- Sex: Women only
- Fitness level: Active; regular indoor-cycling users
- Health status: No reported physical or mental health problem in the prior two months

## Methodology

- Randomized counterbalanced within-subject crossover acute experiment
- Two acute HIIT sessions separated by 15 days
- Public sports facility indoor-cycling setting in Madrid, Spain
- Randomized and controlled study design.

## Protocol

- Masked indoor-cycling HIIT.
- Modality: Stationary cycling with FFP2/N95 mask.
- Work intervals: 1 min 30 s.
- Recovery: 1 min 30 s active recovery.
- Sets or repetitions: 8 high-intensity peaks.
- Intensity: 90-100% estimated HRmax during high-intensity bouts; 70 rpm cadence.
- Session duration: 25 min HIIT procedure.
- Frequency: One masked condition session.
- Program length: Acute crossover.
- Progression: None.
- Unmasked indoor-cycling HIIT.
- Modality: Stationary cycling without mask.
- Work intervals: 1 min 30 s.
- Recovery: 1 min 30 s active recovery.
- Sets or repetitions: 8 high-intensity peaks.
- Intensity: 90-100% estimated HRmax during high-intensity bouts; 70 rpm cadence.
- Session duration: 25 min HIIT procedure.
- Frequency: One unmasked condition session.
- Program length: Acute crossover.
- Progression: None.

## Outcomes

### Stroop
Status: improved
Stroop performance increased more with FFP2/N95 than no mask.

Mask effect F=10.846, p=0.005, partial eta squared=0.420.

### RPE
Status: mixed
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
Status: no clear change
CMJ and calculated power output did not differ by mask condition.

CMJ p=0.226; power output p=0.239.

## Practical 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 And Adherence

- No adverse events or injuries were reported in the article.
- Participants were screened for recent physical or mental health problems.

## Original Sources

- [PubMed](https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/37773935/) (pubmed)
- [DOI](https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0292061) (doi)
- [PMC full text](https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10540954/) (full text)

## Agent Guidance

Preserve the paper-level scope of this note. Do not generalize beyond the population, protocol, measured outcomes, and limitations above.