Being neat when exercising favors your well-being and that of those who train around you. Learn about the mandatory cleaning habits in the gym.
The gym is a closed space in which several people gather to exercise, so it is pertinent to comply with hygiene measures. Such habits are not only the responsibility of those in charge of maintaining the area and the machines. Those who come to train have the responsibility for their cleanliness, that of personal implements and the equipment they use.
Risks of contracting viruses, infections and accidents are minimized if you apply hygiene tips like the ones we will present here. It’s time to take them into account for your routines.
What are the risks of not having good hygiene in the gym?
In it gym It is very easy to get respiratory symptoms if any of the attendees have one of these pathologies. All it takes is a sneeze or not washing your hands, for the contamination to move quickly between the treadmills, the weights and the other instruments.
On the other hand, the fungi and bacteria lodged in the surfaces where you exercise, are triggers of alterations in the skin. these germs they also perch on towels, the floor of swimming pools and bathroomsincreasing the chances of fungal infections.
Jock itch and staph infection are other consequences of poor gym hygiene. In addition, the University of Maryland School of Medicine adds COVID-19 and impetigo as possible diagnoses, which could originate from the hospital environment. gym.
An inquiry of the International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health reflects gyms and exercise facilities as potential sources of infection transmission. They even point out that there is a diversity of 25 bacterial genera of human and environmental origin, easy to contract in these sports halls.
Staphylococcal medical pictures would be the most common.
Essential tips for good hygiene in the gym
Basic indications such as not touching your face, especially without washing your hands; always keep your shirt on, to prevent drops of sweat from falling on the devices; and pick up the implements you carry with the purpose of not spreading or collecting germs, are fundamental hygiene suggestions during training.
It is also worth considering the health tips that we will reveal below.
1. Bring your own utensils
Certain exercises require lying on the floor, resting your hands, and generally rubbing against surfaces. For example, some yoga poses involve placing your face in the lining of a mat; take yours so you don’t doubt its cleanliness. The same happens with leagues, towels and girdles, among other implements.
2. Do not share the drinker
Do not drink from the communal water fountain for any reason. Athletes come there to hydrate and it is very likely that drops of sweat remain in the faucet. The appropriate thing is to have a personal bottle, so that you can transfer the water and recharge when you need it.
3. Disinfecting equipment is part of good gym hygiene
Before the routines clean the machines you will use with disinfectant wipes and spray or a hydroalcoholic gel. At the end of the circuit, do the same.
According to a review by Pediatrics, one of the greatest risk factors for contagion is in the fact of sharing contaminated equipment. ,Mainly when used by a patient with active skin infections.
4. Wash your hands
Repeating this recommendation is not redundant. The correct thing is to wash your hands before and after training, using soap and rubbing palms and back for 20 seconds. Finally, you rinse.
It doesn’t matter if you do it with hot or cold water. The important thing is to enter and leave the gym with clean hands.
5. Do not expose wounds
Just like skin infections, open wounds should not be exposed in the gym. The appropriate thing is to cover them with waterproof bandages and avoid pool sessions or hot tubs, as the bacteria would end up in the water.
Specifically, sutured wounds are a relevant source of bacteria in swimming pools. In these cases, you have to wait for the stitches to be removed or for them to fall on their own, as this is the sign of healing.
6. Wear footwear or protector in common areas
The Mayo Clinic comments that the risk of ringworm of the skin rises when walking barefoot in public areas Where the infection can spread:
- Saunas.
- Pools.
- Dressing rooms.
- Communal toilets and showers.
To prevent, wear protective footwear in the shower area and in the pool. When you get out of the water, wash your feet well and dry meticulously between your toes. Additionally, sprinkle on antifungal powder, especially if you are prone to athlete’s foot.
7. Wash clothes as soon as you take them off
Do not repeat the sweaty clothes in a new training. Gym clothes need to be cleaned regularly. It happens that in elastic fabrics unpleasant odors last longer.
The American Academy of Dermatology suggests wearing loose-fitting, moisture-wicking clothing so skin stays dry and harmful germs don’t grow. Similarly, they highlight the need to wash gym clothing after use.
8. Keep your personal care items
Lending towels, hygiene items or thermos is a channel of contamination. Make sure that all your sports equipment is always inside the bag you use for this purpose. In case you catch someone using your items, be sure to disinfect them.
9. Bathe at the end of the routine
In a magazine experiment Applied and Environmental Microbiology 26 T-shirts were taken from the participants in a session of spinning; they incubated the garments for 28 days and then analyzed them by a trained odor panel. The results found that the composition of the fibers of the clothing encourages the differential growth of textile microbes and the generation of unpleasant odors.
Because of that, it is convenient to take a shower when leaving the gym. Thus, sweat on clothing does not accumulate germs, does not harm the skin and, much less, causes stench.
Although the ideal is to shower and change into fresh clothes soon, if you need to run another errand before you get home, at least disinfect spraying a solution containing 60% alcohol. It is also appropriate to put a little sanitizer on your hands and rub them dry.
10. If you don’t feel well, don’t go
It is a big mistake for sick people to train in the gym, because they are at risk of acquiring additional infections and risk contagion to their partners. Even if it is a cold, it is best to stay at home; any virus in the environment increases unhygienic conditions.
Even an upset stomach is a health hazard situation. The Weekly Morbidity and Mortality Report exemplifies that the risk of pathogen transmission increases if swimmers with diarrhea enter the pool without first washing their bodies or if a fecal incident occurs in the water.
Things to remember about good gym hygiene
Make grooming before, during and after routines a habit.
Remember that your items are only yours, that feeling sick is a sign to rest at home, and that washing sportswear and personal items is as important as disinfecting commonly used appliances. The main thing for good hygiene to prevail in the gym is choose an establishment that complies with sanitary standards and evidence it in the environment and the state of the machines.
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