Effects of respiratory face mask in judo athletes

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has directly impacted the training routine of athletes, requiring adaptations to maintain safety and performance. Regular physical exercise was essential to preserve physical and mental health. Still, the use of face masks during training brought new challenges, especially in the context of high-performance sports. This study aimed to investigate the implications of using respiratory face masks in judo athletes during training. A total of 16 state-level judokas, aged between 18 and 20 years, participated in the study. The athletes performed two training micro cycles, each lasting eight days: the first without wearing masks and the second with their use. At the end of each session, the participants answered a questionnaire applied via Google Forms, with questions focused on individual subjective analyses, including the subjective perception of effort (PSE) and the affect scale. The results showed that using the mask during training increased the RPE, generating negative impacts on the affect scale, indicating greater physiological effort. The use of respiratory masks in judo training is associated with adverse effects, especially in relation to the perception of exertion and the general physical state of the athletes. Thus, it is essential that coaches monitor and adjust training loads when wearing masks to minimise negative impacts on performance.