The Influence of Surgical Mask on Heart Rate, Muscle Saturation of Oxygen, and Hemoglobin during Whole-Body Vibration Exercise.

Background: Whole-body vibration (WBV) is a safe and effective exercise system that affects muscle oxygen through several physiological processes, although its effects on different protocols are still unclear. Unfortunately, the COVID-19 pandemic has generated various health problems and controversy or confusion on its possible adverse consequences and impact on performance when wearing a mask during the practice of physical exercise.

Aim: To analyze the acute effects of WBV exercise in muscle oxygen variables during different intervention phases with or without a surgical mask and compare protocols that differ in the order of vibration frequencies.

Methods: Forty-seven healthy students participated in WBV training. They were randomly assigned to use or not use a mask between the three intervention groups: group A (8, 12.6, and 20 Hz), group B (12.6, 20, and 8 Hz), and group C (20, 8, and 12.6 Hz). Besides the 3 WBV moments, the intervention had a baseline moment, two rest time and a recovery moment. During the whole intervention, the heart rate (HR), muscle oxygen saturation (SatO), oxyhemoglobin (OHb), and deoxyhemoglobin (HHb) were registered.

Results: There were no significant differences between the mask use and not use groups. Significant differences were found between the variables during the seven intervention moments and between intervention groups (A, B, or C).

Conclusion: HR, SatO, and Hb were not influenced by the use of a surgical mask, but they reacted differently through the different moments and were sensitive to vibration frequencies and respective order.