Going to the gym: what you need to know about bacterial risks on shared equipment

Going to the gym keeps us fit, but our health can suffer due to the very high presence of bacteria on the equipment

@Tima Miroshnichenko/Pexels

A great many people go to the gym for fitness and to improve health, but few of them know about the hygiene risks one may face with shared equipment. According to several studies, including one by FitRated, bacteria on gym equipment surprise many-a far larger number of bacteria than on everyday things like toilet seats or public restroom sinks.

Gym equipment: a potential bacterial hotspot

In fact, recent studies have found that stationary bikes, treadmills, and free weights in three separate gyms harbored more than a million bacteria per square inch. These included gram-positive cocci, responsible for skin infections; gram-negative rods, many of which are resistant to antibiotics; and Bacillus, a genus of bacteria known to cause respiratory, eye, and ear infections.

Taking the right precautions can minimize health risks

Results indicated that a single stationary bike can host 39 times more bacteria than a cafeteria tray, while free weights can harbor 362 times more germs than a toilet seat. Treadmills averaged out at an astonishing 74 times filthier than a faucet in a public restroom. Given how many times in one day a person may come into contact with these items in a gym, that is rather sobering.

Following are some preventive measures that could help in reducing the exposure risks. First of all, there is a need for disinfection of equipment before and after use in order to cut down on contamination. Besides that, do not walk barefoot in the gym, try to avoid touching your face during workouts, and at the end wash your hands thoroughly. Gym clothes should be changed and washed immediately after exercise in order to avoid bacterial spread.

Home equipment as an alternative

Lastly, personal exercise equipment might just be a consideration for all those who would not want to take any risk regarding exposure to bacteria. With an ever-growing array of high-quality yet affordable fitness gear available for purchase, keeping fit in the comfort of one’s home is more practical than ever without the sanity-testing hygiene challenges of public gyms.

@Fitrated

Source: Fitrated