The gym can be an absolute cesspool of germs that can spread viruses and bacteria. With so much skin exposed and constant sweating, every machine or piece of equipment you come into contact with can be another opportunity to spread disease. Unfortunately this is something that those of us that don’t have a home gym have to deal with, but there are ways to reduce the risk of spreading and contracting germs.
Microbiologist, Dr. Phillip Tierno:
You’re not using that one machine exclusively for yourself. You’re leaving that machine, and someone else follows you and your germs that you leave behind. 80% of all infectious disease is transmitted by contact.”
The most common germs found at the gym include: staph aureus, klebsiella, enterobacter and E. coli, which can cause various ailments. All machines can transfer germs, however the ones that have the most frequent turnover, such as dumbells, or exercise bicycles and elliptical machines are more likely to have contractible germs because of how quickly the next person uses it after the last person leaves.
Studies show that in gym, the worst place for contracting germs in locker room and shower floors.
Unfortunately, germs do survive in the shower, on walls, and on the floor. I found it in hordes — unbelievable quantities. We use the word ‘innumerable.’ Innumerable.
Here are some tips to prevent contracting (and spreading) germs at the gym:
- Wear clothes that cover the parts of your body that will be contacting gym equipment. Tank tops leave the upper back and shoulders exposed to benches and short shorts can leave leg exposed to bicycle seats. The less skin that touches the equipment, the less likely you are to contact these germs.
- Bring 2 towels with you to the gym. Use one towel only to dry off your own sweat from your body, and a second towel to wipe off gym equipment before and after use. Bringing different colored towels can be helpful in not confusing the two.
- Do not touch your eyes or mouth while at the gym. Most of these germs that come into contact with your hand, can only be contracted into your body through mucous membranes such as the eyes and mouth. Thoroughly wash your hands before eating or touching your face after using gym equipment.
- Hang your gym towel over your shoulder, or on parts of the machine that rarely are touched. If you drop your towel on the floor, refrain from using it to dry off your own sweat.
- When using the gym shower, be sure to bring slippers so that your feet don’t come into direct contact with the shower floor. The shower floor has shown to contain the largest amount of contactable germs in the gym.
