Originally Published by MedicalXpress
Whether it’s your first time at the gym or you’re an experienced lifter, it’s important to remember good gym hygiene. Melanie McNeal, physical and occupational therapy manager at Baylor College of Medicine, shares tips on keeping yourself and others healthy in the gym.
“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,” McNeal said. “If hygiene rules are not followed you could get sick, get others sick or even have your membership cancelled.”
When going to a new gym for the first time, or double checking your gym’s cleanliness, there are a few key indicators to determine if hygiene is prioritized in the space:
- A lack of readily available or no sanitary wipes for members or staff to wipe down equipment after use often means equipment is harboring unseen bacteria.
- No signs posted asking members to clean equipment after using or no cleaning schedule posted suggests cleanliness is not a priority for the gym.
- Other gym members using equipment and not cleaning it afterwards on a consistent basis can show that there is not a culture of cleanliness.
- Caked on layers of dust on equipment can indicate that equipment has not been cleaned in a while and shows neglect of cleanliness.
- Lots of broken-down machines for extended periods of time can be due to a lack of interest from gym management in ensuring the space is well-kept.
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