Researchers find there is no harm in masking-up during exercise

Dr. Matthew Kampert of Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine and colleagues published findings today in JAMA Network Open that suggests there’s no harm in masking-up during exercise for most people. 

They studied twenty healthy people with an average age of thirty-seven. Participants ran on a treadmill to peak exhaustion while wearing an n-95 mask, a cloth mask and no mask. Results showed none of the runners experienced any safety concerns while running in either type of mask. In addition, researchers didn’t detect any abnormal heart rhythms or unsafe drops in oxygen in the runners. They found the main reason participants stopped running, was due to mask discomfort. 

According to the latest CDC guidelines, it’s okay for people who are fully vaccinated to exercise indoors without a mask. “If they have not been vaccinated, they should continue to wear a mask for their own safety but those who are vaccinated, they’re not required to wear a mask and it’s not recommended by the CDC at this point in time,” says Dr. Kampert 

This study did not include people with underlying heart and lung problems, or chronic disease. those with underlying conditions should talk to their doctor about exercising with or without a mask.