Gym equipment has higher bacteria count than public bathrooms

Exercising at the gym is supposed to improve our health and fitness, however, as recent studies show, we should be cautious and we're not talking about the risk of dropping a dumbbell on our foot. According to the latest research conducted by Fit Rated, there may be significantly more bacteria on exercise equipment than in a public toilet.

The study was conducted on 27 devices found in the gym. Measurements showed that on treadmills there are on average 74 times more bacteria than on a faucet in a public toilet, and on free weights as much as 362 times more bacteria than on a toilet seat.

These data may seem frightening, but it is important to remember that similar results were found in studies on public transportation or playgrounds. In general, wherever a large number of strangers touch the same surfaces and objects, there is always a high concentration of microorganisms.

How to protect yourself from bacteria in the gym?

To avoid coming into contact with a large number of bacteria in gyms, we should disinfect the equipment we use for exercising. In most gyms, we can find disinfecting stations where we can get paper towels and disinfectant spray. If your gym does not have these, you can bring your own disinfectant spray and paper towels or cloth. Another good solution is to use your own cotton towel, which should be washed after each workout. We place the towel on the bench and other equipment where our body comes into contact with the device. Unfortunately, this does not solve the issue of free weights, so it is best to have a surface disinfectant spray for them.

If there are no disinfectant stations at our gym, it is worth mentioning to the owner that disinfectants should be available, and if that doesn't help, you can always change gyms. In reputable facilities, cleaning staff ensures the cleanliness and disinfection of equipment, and exercisers also have access to disinfectants.

This article is based on an article by Elizabeth Pace from Action News Jax. 

https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/survey-reveals-gym-equipment-has-higher-bacteria-count-than-public-bathrooms/897081634

Ryszard Kurek