Related Experiment Video
Updated: Feb 15, 2026

Effects of Surgical Masks on Cardiopulmonary Function in Healthy Subjects
Published on: February 12, 2021
[Effect of a surgical mask on six minute walking distance]
E Person1, C Lemercier1, A Royer1
1IFMK de Lorraine, Nancy, France.
Introduction:
Six minutes walking test (6MWT) is regularly used in pulmonology. To minimize the risk of cross-infection, some patients must wear surgical mask at rest and sometimes during exercise.
Aim Of The Study:
To evaluate the effect of wearing a surgical mask during 6MWT in healthy subjects.
Material And Method:
It is a prospective study on 44 healthy subjects. After a first 6MWT for training, they performed randomly two 6MWT: with or without a surgical mask. Distance and dyspnea, heart rate and saturation variations were recorded.
Results:
Distance was not modified by the mask (P=0.99). Dyspnea variation was significantly higher with surgical mask (+5.6 vs. +4.6; P<0.001) and the difference was clinically relevant. No difference was found for the variation of other parameters.
Conclusion:
Wearing a surgical mask modifies significantly and clinically dyspnea without influencing walked distance.
Related Concept Videos
Distance Problem
The Distance Formula
Distance Corrections
Short-distance Transport of Resources
Masking and Demasking Agents
There are many masking agents, such as cyanide, fluoride, triethanolamine, thiourea, and 2,3-bis(sulfanyl)propan-1-ol (formerly 2,3-dimercapto-1-propanol), with the masking agent chosen based on...
Administering Oxygen by Mask
Administering oxygen by mask is a common nursing intervention that provides supplemental oxygen to patients with respiratory distress or chronic lung conditions. This procedure involves delivering oxygen at a specified rate through a face mask connected to an oxygen source.
Equipment
The equipment necessary for this procedure includes:

