They publish a study on the use of the mask and high intensity sports

Preliminary data indicate that the use of surgical mask does not seem to significantly affect maximum effort capacity [no_toc]

The Spanish Society of Sports Medicine has issued a release about a study that they are doing to verify the use of the mask in sports use at high intensities.

Last November, the Spanish Society of Sports Medicine and the San Antonio de Murcia Catholic University, with the participation of the Pablo de Olavide University of Seville, began a scientific study on the effects of facial masks on aerobic exercise capacity.

The study is being carried out with canoeists with maximum stress tests

The study is being conducted in canoeists using a kayak ergometer each canoeist performing two maximum stress tests (until exhaustion with verification of objective parameters), one with a surgical mask and the other without a mask.

The work is having many technical difficulties, the most important of which has been to find a way to place the mask on the device through which the test is breathed (flowmeter) to prevent the pressure generated when inhaling from causing the mask will obstruct it.

Preliminary data indicate that the mask does not appear to affect the ability

Preliminary data indicate that the use of a surgical mask does not seem to affect significantly at maximum effort capacity.

They indicate that until now there is no objectifiable cause that prevents the realization of amateur sports

Although, according to these preliminary data, in highly competitive sport there could be aspects that compromise performance at high intensities (They are still under study), there is no objectifiable cause that prevents the performance of amateur sports or initiation with a surgical mask.

They consider it necessary to insist on the recommendation of the use of a surgical mask in sports practice in amateur athletes

The Spanish Society of Sports Medicine and the General Council of Official Medical Associations, in accordance with the current recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Ministry of Health, consider it necessary to insist on the recommendation of the use of a surgical mask in sports practice in amateur athletes, free time and initiation sports.

Very especially in closed environments and in those circumstances in which the safety distance cannot be maintained.

The use of a mask during physical activity by people with obstructive pulmonary diseases of the underlying airways, including asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease, in particular when the disease is between moderate and severe, should be previously consulted by the patient to his doctor dealer.

The Spanish Society of Sports Medicine and the General Council of Official Medical Associations endorse that the most important prevention measures during physical activity consist of maintaining physical distance and ensuring good ventilation during activity.

They recommend increasing the safety distance to 3 and 8 meters

However, they believe that there is sufficient physiological and bibliographic evidence for the authorities to recommend that this minimum distance of 1 or 2 meters be significantly increased during exercise and its immediate recovery period. (3 meters minimum in static and 8 meters in movement).

The Spanish Society of Sports Medicine and the General Council of Official Medical Associations will update the content of this communication when the available evidence advises them.