Staying Safe and Avoiding Germs at the Gym

By Stepy Kamei

If you've managed to set up a healthy routine for yourself that involves going to the gym, you should take a moment to congratulate yourself for putting your health and wellness at such a priority in your life! It can be extremely challenging to work up the motivation to go to the gym even just once, let alone on a regular and consistent basis. That can make finding an excuse to avoid the gym that much more powerful and tempting. The last thing you want to worry about when on your way to a good workout is whether you'll be susceptible to picking up an infection or virus at the gym! Keep on reading to pick up some helpful tips and tricks on what you can do to stay clean and germ-free while you work out!

Where Germs Are Most Common

Unfortunately, there are many opportunities for infections to arise in a public setting such as a gym. The bathroom is probably one of the most unclean areas of a gym, followed by the handles of equipment, weights, and machines. Many gym attendees have reported noticing others using equipment, then heading into the restrooms, before heading back to the equipment, all without having washed their hands or wiped down the handles on anything they've touched.

How to Stay Safe

Like in any public space, it's important to do what you can to keep yourself protected from harmful germs and bacteria that may be lying in wait on the surfaces of doors, railings, and equipment you'll be placing your own hands on.

Be sure to bring anti-bacterial wipes, as well as hand sanitizer, with you on every single trip to the gym. If you already use a gym bag, be sure to simply keep a package of wipes and a bottle of sanitizer in the bag at all times so you never forget it at home. Wipe down the handles on every machine and/or piece of equipment you use, and squeeze a few drops of the hand sanitizer on your palms between moving from one area of the gym to the next. Finally, be sure to always wash your hands on your way out of the restroom.

You may feel slightly self-conscious about wiping down every area you visit in the gym, but your health is simply too important to risk getting any sort of infection or virus as a result of poor hygiene practices.

To learn more about your health, wellness and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Jacksonville, Fla.