Effects of Wearing the Elevation Training Mask During Low-intensity Cycling Exercise on Intraocular Pressure.

Vera, Jesús; Jiménez, Raimundo; Redondo, Beatríz; Perez-Castilla, Alejandro; García-Ramos, Amador

PRCIS Low-intensity aerobic exercise is recommended to reduce intraocular pressure (IOP) levels. However, this effect depends on several factors. We found that using an elevation training mask during low-intensity aerobic exercise causes an IOP rise. PURPOSE To assess the influence of wearing an elevation training mask (ETM) on IOP during low-intensity endurance training. METHODS 16 physically active young adults (age=23.9±2.9▒y) cycled during 30 minutes at 10% of maximal power production with and without an ETM in two different days and randomized order. A rebound tonometer was used to measure IOP at baseline, after a warm-up of 5 minutes, during cycling (6, 12, 18, 24 and 30 minutes), and recovery (5 and 10 minutes) by rebound tonometry. RESULTS The use of an ETM significantly affects the IOP behaviour during exercise (P<0.001, ηp²=0.66). In the ETM condition, there was an IOP increment during exercise (P<0.001, ηp²=0.28) whereas an IOP-lowering effect was observed in the control condition (P<0.001, ηp²=0.41). Post-hoc comparisons showed that there were greater IOP values during exercise in the ETM condition in comparison to the control condition (average IOP difference=3.7±2.2▒mmHg; corrected P values<0.01, and Cohen´s ds >1.10, in all cases). CONCLUSION Low-intensity endurance exercise causes an increment in IOP when it is performed wearing an ETM and a decrease in IOP when the air flow is not restricted (control condition). Therefore, the ETM should be discouraged during low-intensity endurance exercise for individuals who need to reduce IOP levels (e.g., glaucoma patients or those at risk). However, the external validity of these results needs to be addressed in future studies with the inclusion of glaucoma patients.