How dirty are gyms? Here's one more reason not to go to the gym!

When you exercise in the gym, do you carry alcohol spray with you to disinfect the equipment every time you use it? I believe most people's answer may be: Ah, do you need to be so cautious?

If you haven't developed this habit yet, I strongly recommend that you start today. After all, a gym with people coming and going is really "dirty".

How dirty are gyms?

There are many sources of infection in the gym, the most common of which include equipment surfaces, locker rooms and showers, towels and yoga mats . These places may breed and spread various microorganisms.

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Among them, the surface of sports equipment is the most easily overlooked source of infection.

Imagine how many hands touch those dumbbells, treadmill handrails and chairs every day? In addition to the various microorganisms that may be left by the previous user, the sweat secreted by the skin during exercise, the dandruff left by friction, etc., will also become nutrients for the growth of more microorganisms. With every touch, these microorganisms may bring us potential health risks.

Image source: A social platform

When you are sweating on the yoga mat and fitness equipment in the pursuit of a beautiful body, the germs have quietly climbed onto your skin through the contact between you and the equipment.

1

Skin infections

Staphylococcus aureus is the most common opportunistic pathogen in the gym environment.

Staphylococcus aureus exists on the skin of about 20% of healthy adults, and as people touch them, they will be spread to the surface of equipment, public towels and even the floor. When our skin is healthy and intact, it will not pose a threat to us. But if our skin is already damaged, or has a rash or acne, it may be infected, causing blisters, abscesses, redness and swelling and other skin infections.

2

Ringworm infection

In addition, bacteria, viruses, and fungi such as hemolytic streptococci, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, herpes simplex virus, dermatophytes, HPV, etc. can be found in the gym environment. If you are unfortunately infected after contact, you may develop a series of problems such as impetigo, otitis, herpes, tinea pedis, etc.

Dermatophytes, in particular, are easily spread around moist common areas in the gym, such as showers, locker rooms, swimming pools and hot tubs. When we take a shower after exercise, we are easily infected. In addition to possible tinea pedis and tinea manuum, if infected by specific tinea fungi, there is even the possibility of embarrassing tinea cruris.

3

HPV infection

There are many posts on social media sharing their experiences:

“I just went to the gym a few days ago and got infected with HPV”

"I wore a sleeveless shirt to the gym and got a wart on my arm"

"After taking a shower at the gym, I got a wart on the sole of my foot"

.....

Yes, you may be infected with HPV by exercising in an unclean gym.

This is because the HPV virus may be hidden on the floor of the gym . If we often walk barefoot on the floor of the gym, the tiny wounds, damage or weak spots on the soles of the feet may be invaded by the HPV virus and form plantar warts.

Plantar warts are usually not a big deal, but when they develop severely, they will put pressure on the soles of the feet when we stand or walk, causing tenderness.

Image source: A social platform

But it should be noted that it is difficult to get HPV related to genitals in the gym, and it is mainly a type of HPV that infects our skin . This type of HPV is low-risk, and after infection, it will not pose a huge threat to our health, and the treatment is relatively healthy.

There are more than 100 types of HPV. Some types of HPV infection can cause warts on the surface of the skin, while others can cause lesions or even cancer in the genital area. HPV can be spread through skin-to-skin contact or sexual intercourse.

In addition to skin problems, you may also have diarrhea and catch a cold after working out. After all, the familiar E. coli is also a frequent visitor to the gym environment. In the gym's bathroom, locker room floor and other environments, E. coli will inevitably appear. If hygiene and cleaning are not in place, we will touch these contaminated surfaces and then touch our mouth, nose or food without washing our hands, which may cause intestinal infection and symptoms such as diarrhea and abdominal pain.

In addition, since the gym environment is usually relatively closed and there is a large flow of people, the air is usually more "dirty" than outdoors. During the flu season, the gym will become an important place for the spread of viruses, and the virus will be spread into the space through the sneezing droplets of gym goers.

Is it really true that I can’t go to the gym anymore?

Although there are pathogens on gym equipment, on the ground, and even in the air that may pose a health risk to us, this does not mean that we cannot go to the gym to exercise or use public sports equipment.

On the one hand, our skin is a strong barrier against external bacteria, and when the skin is intact, we have normal resistance to external microorganisms. On the other hand, the benefits of exercise in improving physical health and immunity generally far outweigh the risks of bacterial infection.

Of course, for certain groups of people, such as those with traumatic skin injuries, impaired immune systems, and those who are temporarily ill, using public gymnastics equipment for exercise may put them at risk of bacterial infection, which requires maximum caution.

For most ordinary people, developing health awareness and taking self-protection measures can nip most infections in the bud.

Health is not just about a strong body, it also includes attention to personal hygiene. The next time you go to the gym, bring the following knowledge with you to make your workout both effective and safe:

Tips:

① Wipe and disinfect equipment before and after use;

② Wash your hands frequently before and after exercise;

③Avoid walking barefoot, especially in locker rooms and showers;

④Try to use your own yoga mat, towel, and slippers;

⑤ If you have a wound, bandage it properly before exercising;

⑥Avoid contact with other people’s sweat when using the equipment;

⑦ Take a shower and change clothes immediately after exercise.

References

[1]Andrade, A., Dominski, FH, Pereira, ML, de Liz, CM, & Buonanno, G. (2018). Infection risk in gyms during physical exercise. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 25, 19675-19686.

[2]Weissfeld, AS (2015). Infections at the Gym. Clinical Microbiology Newsletter, 37(11), 87-90.

[3]Zhang, M., Ma, Y., Xu, H., Wang, M., & Li, L. (2023). Surfaces of gymnastic equipment as reservoirs of microbial pathogens with potential for transmission of bacterial infection and antimicrobial resistance. Frontiers in microbiology, 14, 1182594.

[4]Cohen, PR (2008). The skin in the gym: a comprehensive review of the cutaneous manifestations of community-acquired methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus infection in athletes. Clinics in dermatology, 26(1), 16-26.

Planning and production

Author: Xinshi Science Studio

Review丨Zhang Yu, researcher/PhD, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, national health science expert

Planning丨Yinuo

Editor: Yinuo

Proofread by Xu Lai and Lin Lin