Gym Hygiene Essentials: How to Create a Safer, Healthier Workout Space

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By Jane Sandwood

Jane spent 10 years working as a personal trainer, before taking a step back to start a family. She has since rediscovered her teenage love of writing and enjoys contributing to a variety of publications, both print and online, about health and fitness topics. 

Gym Hygiene Essentials: How to Create a Safer, Healthier Workout Space

Routine exercise improves mood, helps manage mental health concerns such as anxiety and depression, and helps to control weight, highlights the Mayo Clinic. For those who are in sports college, the gym plays a key role in both physical fitness and education. While a routine gym routine can quickly become a staple, however, it’s imperative to keep cleanliness at the forefront of the experience. From the realization of the health risks that can be present at your favorite gym to the value of personal responsibility — and how you can choose a clean facility —- proper gym hygiene should never become overlooked.

 

An exploration of the health risks

Gyms that have a high number of members are known to be breeding grounds for bacteria, which facilitate the transmission of health concerns that range from the common cold to skin conditions like athlete’s foot. The American Academy of Dermatology points out that common infections that can be found at the gym include ringworm and plantar warts. “This is because bacteria, viruses, and fungi that cause skin infections to develop, thrive in warm, moist places like sweaty exercise equipment and locker room showers.” Damp and poorly ventilated areas of a gym can present further risks, as this is the ideal environment for fungi to thrive. Unclean showers, for example, can facilitate the spread of athlete’s foot, a fungal skin infection. 

It’s important to remember that gyms can also facilitate the spread of viruses, such as COVID-19 and the stomach flu. High-touch surfaces such as doorknobs, handrails, and equipment can all become carriers for the transmission of viruses. Shared equipment also presents the potential risk of cross-contamination, a factor that heightens the risk that bacteria and viruses will spread due to the fact that unclean surfaces harbor pathogens (which can easily transfer from one person to the next). In addition to the health risks of an unclean gym, owners must take into account the impact that cleanliness can have on reputation. The health issues that can potentially occur in a gym, professional and routine cleaning is essential to a healthy environment. However, personal responsibility among those who attend the gym is equally as paramount to a clean and healthy space.

 

The role of personal responsibility 

Those who regularly visit the gym must realize the essential nature of personal responsibility, which is key to proper etiquette. Effective hand washing and wiping down equipment after use are just two prime examples that members should implement into a normal routine at the gym, though personal responsibilities extend beyond the basics. For example, shower shoes in the locker room and shower can work to prevent fungal infections like athlete’s foot, while a clean locker (free of dirty workout clothes) will avoid mold growth in a shared locker room. 

When sick (or affected by a contagious skin condition), it’s important to stay home in order to prevent the spread of illness. When necessary, a workout can be done at home, and can provide the opportunity to maintain a routine even when you’re not fit to come to the gym. One Wired article notes that a yoga mat can be a great place to start when the goal is to set up an at-home workout, as it will define the parameters of your space. From there, key pieces of equipment (such as small weights, resistance bands, etc.) can help further establish a well-rounded workout zone at home. Through such measures, you can play a valuable role in the maintenance of a clean gym that puts a healthy environment at the forefront of the facility. 

 

Clean facilities prioritize cleanliness

Good hygiene practices can make a major difference — in addition to personal responsibility, a clean facility that encourages hygiene among those in attendance is a must. “Good hygiene prevents sicknesses like a cold, influenza and even salmonella, but cleanliness can also indicate that a gym is well-maintained overall, including the quality of equipment,” Melani McNeal, a physical and occupational therapy manager at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston points out. The U.S. News & World Report article goes on to highlight several valuable aspects that can help determine whether or not a gym is up to par in regard to hygiene practices. These include whether there is a lack of sanitary wipes present (to wipe down gym equipment), signs that ask members to clean equipment after use, and visibly dirty equipment or broken-down machines, to name just a few. If other members in attendance are not actively wiping down equipment on a consistent basis, this is noted to be another sign that the facility doesn’t prioritize proper hygiene

The gym plays a pivotal role for anyone at sports college, however, there’s no question that gym hygiene is of utmost importance when it comes to the many health risks that can be found in a shared facility. With that in mind, the personal responsibilities of those who attend the gym go hand in hand with the facility’s initiatives to maintain a clean space for all.

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