Face masks during exercise: Investigating sex differences in the multidimensional components of dyspnoea

To contain the SARS-CoV-2 virus, public health officials have implemented face mask (FM) mandates. Initially, many researchers feared that individuals who exercise with a FM would be faced with a respiratory resistance that could reduce oxygen and increase carbon dioxide levels in the blood. However, recent studies show no adverse physiological effects when a healthy individual exercises with a FM. Despite this observation, studies consistently demonstrate that FMs increase the sensation of breathlessness. Unfortunately, there are few studies explaining the causes of breathlessness with a FM. Moreover, it is unknown if biological sex influences the experience of breathlessness with FMs during exercise. As a result, the purpose of our study is to examine the mechanisms of breathlessness with FMs in males and females during exercise. We hypothesize that females will experience more breathlessness with FMs, which will be due to their relatively higher levels of breathing resistance and increased levels of respiratory muscle electrical activity with FMs compared with males. In our study, males and females will undergo two aerobic exercises tests. In randomized order, the participants will complete the tests with and without a mask while we measure the multiple components associated with breathlessness and various physiological outcome measures. Our research will be the first to provide detailed insight into the effects that FMs pose on males and females, and will provide essential data needed make recommendations for FM use.