Mask Recommendations While Exercising

It's been a little over a year since the breakout of the Coronavirus pandemic. Although vaccination rates are increasing and the country is edging slowly towards reopening, the Center of Disease and Control Prevention still strongly recommends that everyone wear a mask in public settings. This is still a vital measure to help slow the spread of the COVID-19 virus.

So when it comes to exercising and going back to the gym, wearing a mask is still highly advised, but with some precautions and recommendations.

Precautions for exercising with a mask on:
Consult your doctor before exercising while wearing a mask, especially If you have a pre-existing respiratory or cardiovascular condition like COPD, asthma, chronic bronchitis, pulmonary fibrosis or any other lung condition that could be worsened with restricted air flow.

Also, monitor your exertion levels. Workouts like running and high intensity interval training are very demanding on the lungs and fatigue can set very rapidly. If possible, perform those exercises without a mask outdoors or where there is plenty of social distance from other people. Otherwise, adjust your intensity level and make it lower so your body adjusts to the slightly restricted air flow.

Recommendations for proper face covering during exercise*:
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• Make sure your mask is big enough to cover your nose and mouth for proper protection.
• The mask should feel comfortable and snug around your cheeks and nose. Try not to fidget with the mask while you are working out.
• If the mask restricts your breathing prior to exercise, it will not be good to wear during exercise.
• Wash your hands PRIOR to putting on your mask. Soap and water are fine or use an alcohol-based hand rub.
• Make sure you do not touch your eyes, nose or mouth when removing your mask. Wash your hands AFTER taking off your mask.
• It is best to remove your mask by the ear loops because the front of the mask is where germs will collect.
• A great advantage of a cloth mask is that it can be washed. Exercise enthusiasts who exercise regularly are encouraged to have a few masks so there is a clean, dry mask ready for each workout. Any laundry detergent will be fine for washing cloth face masks.
• When you talk, keep your mask over your nose and mouth. Do not pull it down as this defeats the purpose of blocking respiratory droplets from being released in the air.
• If you tend to sweat a lot when you workout (indoors or outdoors), perhaps bring a second mask with you and replace when it becomes damp. It is best to replace a damp mask (from workout sweat or outdoor humidity).
• For people who wear glasses, sometimes they fog up if too much air is released near the nose of the face mask. Readjust the mask to be snug over the nose. Furthermore, it has been shown that washing glasses with soapy water, without rinsing, and letting them dry prior to wearing a face mask reduces fogging. Alas, folding a tissue and placing underneath your glasses may absorb any escaping moisture from your breath.
• With children, find a cloth mask that fits a child’s face, comfortable but snug, and follow all of the same safety instructions above. Do not put masks on young children under the age of two.

* American Council on Exercise