Is It Dangerous To Exercise Wearing A Mask?

Illustration (Bagus Santosa / VOI)

JAKARTA - Social restrictions in the midst of the COVID-19 outbreak have forced the community to exercise independently because the fitness center is not operating. Not to mention, there must be implementation of a COVID-19 prevention protocol if you want to do activities.

From here, news emerged that exercising wearing a mask can harm the respiratory system so that it can lead to congestion. This issue develops in the community from social media.

Sports specialist Michael Triangto said the PSBB regulations require wearing masks when leaving the house, including exercising. The problem is, using a mask, of course, you will feel less relieved, breathless, and uncomfortable.

"This is reasonable because the main purpose of its use is to protect the wearer from the possibility of being infected with the virus and to protect others from the possibility of us being infected with the corona virus," Michael said in his statement, Wednesday, June 3.

Therefore, he said, it is natural to feel tight when using a mask when exercising with heavy intensity.

"If you exercise with heavy intensity, it has the potential to experience the highest risk of infection, including being infected with COVID-19 and also injuries and other health problems," he said.

Thus, people who want to exercise should do it with light to moderate intensity, unless they are an athlete. Michael also suggested exercising at home so you don't need to wear a mask.

Choose a mask when exercising

When exercising, people cannot use any mask. Although the level of prevention of COVID-19 in N95 masks is quite high, the use of these masks for exercise is not recommended.

Moreover, the N95 type mask is only intended for medical personnel, for example in isolation rooms and ICUs that specifically treat sufferers of COVID-19. Michael advised people to wear surgical masks or cloth masks when they want to exercise outdoors.

"Surgical masks are certainly lower in ability to filter the air so that they are not too stifling to use while cloth masks are even more comfortable when they are worn," he explained.