Health Risks at the Gym
By Sara Butler
Your gym is probably your healthy haven -- a place where you can go to work up a good sweat and feel as if you’re really doing something to impact your health and wellness. While that is true, gyms aren’t all workout puppies and rainbows because there are a few things about a gym that can actually be a hazard to your health. Here are a few dirty gym situations you may find yourself in and what to do in order to stay healthy!
Exercise Mats
When using exercise or yoga mats provided by your gym, you must practice caution. It’s not unheard of to get athletes foot or a plantar wart from a communal mat, because even if you did wipe it down after you used it last, that doesn’t mean anyone else has!
You can protect yourself by bringing your own mat to practice on. That way you know exactly where it’s been, who has been on it, and the last time it was cleaned. Always make sure to clean it regularly and if you use the gym mats simply wipe it down good with cleaner before using it.
Your Ear Buds
A lot of people like to listen to some tunes while they work out -- it’s a great way to motivate yourself! But when was the last time you cleaned those earbuds? Be honest, the answer is probably never. Studies have revealed that using earbuds on the regular increases the number of bacteria in the ear. If you share your earbuds with your friends, then you're sharing ear bacteria too! So, try not to share.
You can keep your ears healthy by storing them in a clean cloth bag after each use and remembering to clean them with alcohol at least once a week. Try to make it a normal part of your routine so you don’t forget!
Sharing Equipment
The whole reason you join a gym is to use the equipment, right? Well, you and the thousands of other people who go there each week to use the same equipment. People sweat all over the stuff and while there’s nothing wrong with sweat by itself, you can be certain to find germs wherever you find sweat. Be wary of weight equipment, because of all the equipment at the gym, it seems to be wiped down the least.
You can protect yourself by wiping down equipment before and after you use it. Your gym should have spray or wipes on hand to take care of this.
Don't avoid the gym, but be smart about how you use it -- and what you use there!
To learn more about your health, wellness, and fitness, see your local chiropractor at The Joint Chiropractic in Snellville, Ga.