Masks in the Dance Studio - Harmful or Helpful?

"A challenge only becomes an obstacle when you bow to it." - Ray A. Davis

Since it looks as if masks are here to stay, dance educators and dancers should be aware of how to use them effectively. There has been widespread concern about dancers wearing masks during class –

                        Will they get enough oxygen?

                        Will they be inhaling too much carbon dioxide?

            If an asymptomatic individual is a carrier and inhales expelled droplets, will he or she develop a full-blown case of the illness?

The good news is that there is no evidence that wearing a mask while exercising causes any harm. While masks do present an added obstacle for the body when exercising, the body is fully capable of overcoming the obstacle and meeting any increased demands of energy. It will take time for the body to adapt just as it does when someone begins a new exercise routine. For this reason, students should begin wearing masks for short periods of time with breaks and gradually work up to completing an entire class with a mask without a break.

Several studies on exercising with masks have been conducted within the past 4 years. These studies included high intensity interval training (2), endurance exercises (3) and resistance training (1) while wearing, much more restrictive, altitude training masks.  Alll have determined that exercising while wearing a mask results in no significant changes in heart rate or blood pressure. The studies, however, have found an increase in the rate of perceived exertion (the amount of energy the individual feels he or she must be expending) which makes sense because the mask does present an additional obstacle while exercising (1,2,3,4)

While the endurance exercise study found modestly lower levels of oxygen in the subjects, the levels were well tolerated, and since dance does not fall into the category of endurance training, these findings are not a major concern among dancers (3).

Since cloth masks are not sealed, additional oxygen is allowed to enter through the sides, and most of the exhaled carbon dioxide escapes before the next inhalation. Additionally, the body is strong enough to filter out and withstand  the small percentage of viral droplets that might be exhaled and inhaled again.

Masks will require an adjustment for dancers, and exercises that focus on breathing – inhaling through the nose and out through the mouth – can help prepare them for dancing with a mask. It is important to note that masks that become wet due to sweating are ineffective so dancers should also be encouraged to have a second mask in their bags.

It is an adjustment, however, one that our amazing bodies are capable of making. Will it present a challenge? Definitely, but who better to rise to this challenge than dancers?

(1)Andre, Thomas L. et al. (2018) Restrictive Breathing Mask Reduces Repetitions to Failure During a Session of Lower-Body Resistance Exercise, Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 32 (8), 2103-2108.

(2)Biggs, NC, England BS, Turcotte NJ, Cook MR, and Williams, AL. (2017) Effects of simulated altitude on maximal oxygen uptake and inspiratory fitness. International Journal of Exercise Science, 10, 127–136.

(3) Granados, J, Gillum, TL, Castillo, W, Christmas, KM, and Kuennen, MR. (2016) Functional respiratory muscle training during endurance exercise causes modest hypoxemia but overall is well tolerated. Journal of Strength Conditioning Research, 30: 755–762.

(4) Maspero M, and Smith JD. (2016) Effect of an acute bout of exercise using an altitude training mask simulating 12,000 ft on physiological and perceptual variables. International Journal of Exercise Science, 2 (8), Article 90.