{"id":41271,"date":"2026-03-11T16:23:08","date_gmt":"2026-03-11T08:23:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/?p=41271"},"modified":"2026-04-07T16:44:27","modified_gmt":"2026-04-07T08:44:27","slug":"effects-wearing-mask-while-exercising","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/blog\/effects-wearing-mask-while-exercising\/","title":{"rendered":"What\u00a0Are\u00a0the\u00a0Effects\u00a0of\u00a0Wearing\u00a0a\u00a0Mask\u00a0While\u00a0Exercising?"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Some people think working out in a mask is dumb or even harmful. Even some professionals, like the doctor in this post on Twitter\/X tell people not to wear masks. But what if breathing through a mask while exercising isn\u2019t just harmless, it\u2019s actually training your lungs and makes you stronger? In a study at the University of Wisconsin, researchers randomly assigned some people to exercise while wearing this mask.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p><\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-embed is-type-rich is-provider-twitter wp-block-embed-twitter\"><div class=\"wp-block-embed__wrapper\">\n<blockquote class=\"twitter-tweet\" data-width=\"550\" data-dnt=\"true\"><p lang=\"en\" dir=\"ltr\">I saw a post from a US \u201cdoctor\u201c (a woman in this case) denigrating someone wearing a mask in the fitness\u2026 she doesn\u2019t allow to respond so let\u2019s do this for everyone:<br><br>More masked fitness!<a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/IQ4pbQhUrr\">https:\/\/t.co\/IQ4pbQhUrr<\/a> <a href=\"https:\/\/t.co\/FGHIyIY7dH\">pic.twitter.com\/FGHIyIY7dH<\/a><\/p>&mdash; Rob van Gelder (@steadirob) <a href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/steadirob\/status\/2030995958335713331?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw\">March 9, 2026<\/a><\/blockquote><script async src=\"https:\/\/platform.twitter.com\/widgets.js\" charset=\"utf-8\"><\/script>\n<\/div><\/figure>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img fetchpriority=\"high\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"582\" height=\"928\" src=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-2.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41272\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-2.jpeg 582w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-2-376x600.jpeg 376w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-2-188x300.jpeg 188w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 582px) 100vw, 582px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">The Mask Designed to Make Breathing Harder<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>If you\u2019re scared about the idea that masks might damage the respiratory system, then you should be scared of this mask! When companies make pollution masks, they want to make them as breathable as possible.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>But the company behind this \u201cElevation Training Mask\u201d&nbsp;<strong>tried to make this mask as restrictive<\/strong>&nbsp;as possible. Why would they do that? They say it mimics the benefits of high-altitude training.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"602\" height=\"401\" src=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-3.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41273\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-3.jpeg 602w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-3-600x400.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-3-300x200.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>But that\u2019s what the company says. Companies say lots of things. So researchers in Wisconsin decided to&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov\/pmc\/articles\/PMC4879455\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">put it to the test<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img decoding=\"async\" width=\"602\" height=\"580\" src=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-4.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41274\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-4.jpeg 602w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-4-600x578.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-4-300x289.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<h2 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Can Exercising With a Mask Improve Your Fitness?<\/h2>\n\n\n\n<p>They got college students to train on a stationary bike for six weeks. During that training, the scientists randomly assigned some students to wear the mask and some not.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class=\"wp-block-image\">\n<figure class=\"aligncenter size-full\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"602\" height=\"272\" src=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-5.jpeg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41275\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-5.jpeg 602w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-5-600x271.jpeg 600w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/image-5-300x136.jpeg 300w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 602px) 100vw, 602px\" \/><\/figure><\/div>\n\n\n<p>When they were wearing the mask, their bodies had to work harder. One challenge their bodies faced was that they had roughly 3% less oxygen in their blood.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"738\" src=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-Oxygen-1024x738.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41276\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-Oxygen-1024x738.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-Oxygen-600x432.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-Oxygen-300x216.jpg 300w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-Oxygen-768x553.jpg 768w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-Oxygen-1536x1107.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-Oxygen-2048x1475.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>But that extra challenge seemed to help. After six weeks, the mask group scored higher on a measure of cardiovascular fitness called VO2 max (although the difference was not statistically significant).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"611\" src=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-VO2-Max-1024x611.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41277\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-VO2-Max-1024x611.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-VO2-Max-600x358.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-VO2-Max-300x179.jpg 300w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-VO2-Max-768x458.jpg 768w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-VO2-Max-1536x917.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-VO2-Max-2048x1223.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>But the biggest effect of the mask was on people\u2019s lungs. Here\u2019s how it works.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>When we exercise hard, we breathe more so that we can take in more oxygen. But after a while, our breathing changes. Soon, lactic acid starts building up so fast that we start breathing harder not to take in oxygen, but&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/acewebcontent.azureedge.net\/certifiednews\/images\/article\/pdfs\/VT_Testing.pdf\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">mostly to get rid of carbon dioxide<\/a>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Scientists call that tipping point between oxygen and carbon dioxide the&nbsp;<a href=\"https:\/\/en.wikipedia.org\/wiki\/Ventilatory_threshold#%3A~%3Atext%3DIn%20kinesiology%2C%20the%20ventilatory%20threshold%2Cof%20anaerobiosis%20and%20lactate%20accumulation.\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener\">ventilatory threshold<\/a>. Couch potatoes will reach that threshold real quick. But athletes can go much longer before hitting the threshold.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1024\" height=\"612\" src=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-Ventilatory-Threshold-1024x612.jpg\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-41278\" srcset=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-Ventilatory-Threshold-1024x612.jpg 1024w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-Ventilatory-Threshold-600x359.jpg 600w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-Ventilatory-Threshold-300x179.jpg 300w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-Ventilatory-Threshold-768x459.jpg 768w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-Ventilatory-Threshold-1536x918.jpg 1536w, https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/wordpress\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/03\/Elevation-Training-Mask-Ventilatory-Threshold-2048x1225.jpg 2048w\" sizes=\"(max-width: 1024px) 100vw, 1024px\" \/><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>On those stationary bikes, the mask group held out longer before reaching that ventilatory threshold. Or in dummy terms, the mask made people better at breathing.<\/p>\n\n\n<div class='bottom-line'><div class='bottom-line-top'>Bottom Line<\/div><div class='bottom-line-title'>Bottom Line: What Are the Effects of Wearing a Mask While Exercising?<\/div><div class='bottom-line-content'><\/span><\/p>\n<p><span>There is evidence that exercising with a very constrictive mask makes people\u2019s respiratory system better, not worse.<\/div><div class='bottom-line-last'>Smart Air<\/div><\/div>","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Some people think working out in a mask is dumb or even harmful. Even some professionals, like the doctor in this post on Twitter\/X tell people not to wear masks. But what if breathing through a mask while exercising isn\u2019t just harmless, it\u2019s actually training your lungs and makes you &#8230; <\/p>\n<p class=\"read-more-container\"><a title=\"What\u00a0Are\u00a0the\u00a0Effects\u00a0of\u00a0Wearing\u00a0a\u00a0Mask\u00a0While\u00a0Exercising?\" class=\"read-more button\" href=\"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/blog\/effects-wearing-mask-while-exercising\/#more-41271\" aria-label=\"Read more about What\u00a0Are\u00a0the\u00a0Effects\u00a0of\u00a0Wearing\u00a0a\u00a0Mask\u00a0While\u00a0Exercising?\">Read more<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1035,"featured_media":41282,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"3961,29004,9858,8107,27237,31967","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[17],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-41271","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-air-pollution","resize-featured-image"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41271","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1035"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=41271"}],"version-history":[{"count":5,"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41271\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":41356,"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/41271\/revisions\/41356"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/41282"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=41271"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=41271"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/smartairfilters.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=41271"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}