Impact of surgical mask on performance and cardiorespiratory responses to submaximal exercise in COVID-19 patients near hospital discharge: A randomized crossover trial.

Background: Wearing a surgical mask in hospitalized patients has become recommended during care, including rehabilitation, to mitigate coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) transmission. However, the mask may increase dyspnoea and raise concerns in promoting rehabilitation activities in post-acute COVID-19 patients.

Objective: To evaluate the impact of the surgical mask on dyspnoea, exercise performance and cardiorespiratory response during a 1-min sit-to-stand test in hospitalized COVID-19 patients close to discharge.

Effects of surgical and cloth facemasks during a submaximal exercise test in healthy adults.

Background: Surgical (SM) or cloth facemasks (CM) has become mandatory in many public spaces during the COVID-19 pandemic. They may interfere with the participation in physical activities.

Objective: To evaluate how these masks influence dyspnoea (primary outcome), exercise performance and cardiorespiratory response during a 1-min sit-to-stand test (1STST), and to assess masks discomfort sensations.