Original Research Article
Year: 2023 | Month: September | Volume: 13 | Issue: 9 | Pages: 228-245
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20230934
Aerobic Capacity with the Use of N95 Mask vs Cloth Mask in Normal Healthy Individuals using YMCA 3-Minute Bench Step Test: A Crossover Observational Study
Dr. Himani Vartak1, Dr. Khyati Kothary2, Dr. Shweta Manwadkar3
1MPT student, Department of Physiotherapy, K. J. Somaiya College of Physiotherapy, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Mumbai, India
2Head of Department, Department of Physiotherapy, K. J. Somaiya College of Physiotherapy, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Mumbai, India
3Principal, Department of Physiotherapy, K. J. Somaiya College of Physiotherapy, Maharashtra University of Health Sciences, Mumbai, India
Corresponding Author: Dr. Himani Vartak
ABSTRACT
Background: COVID-19 outbreak has led to severe restrictions and to minimize the risk of infection, wearing facemasks is recommended in public areas and can be problem while performing exercises, causing inconvenience for people. The studies done till now require space, equipments and are costly but no study has been conducted on step test which requires less space and is inexpensive. Hence, it is yet to be investigated whether there is any effect on Aerobic Capacity and Cardiorespiratory parameters of an individual after wearing N95 and Cloth mask.
Aim: This study was conducted to compare Aerobic Capacity in Normal Healthy Individuals using YMCA 3-Minute Bench Step Test while wearing N95, Cloth and no mask.
Methods: A crossover observational study design, involving 50 normal healthy participants (21-30 yrs old) from Physiotherapy OPD and Tertiary Health Care were called 3 times with 3 days of washout period in between the test and was asked to perform the test with N95, Cloth and without mask. The outcome measures like BP, HR, RR, SPO2, RPE, VO2max were assessed pre and post the test.
Results: This study revealed that when compared within the group, all 3 groups were found to have highly significance in BP, HR, RR, SPO2, RPE with P value<0.0001. In between the group comparison, there was statistical significance on RPE, HR, RR and VO2max in N95 as compared with cloth and no mask Pvalue<0.001, whereas there is no significant difference on BP and SPO2 with Pvalue>0.05.
Conclusion: There is reduction in VO2max and increase in HR, RR, RPE in N95 mask more as compared to Cloth mask.
Key words: N95, Cloth, Mask, Step test, Aerobic Capacity, Cardiorespiratory Parameters.