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What to look for to ensure your gym won't make you sick
Before working out, inspect the fitness facility thoroughly for cleanliness
Gyms and fitness facilities must pay close attention to cleanliness to ensure the health of their patrons. A well-maintained facility greatly reduces the risk for transmission of communicable diseases – from athlete’s foot and colds to potentially more serious infections such as staphylococcus and E. coli.
When joining a fitness centre, inspect the locker room and restroom facilities. Look for hand sanitation stations as well as disinfectant spray bottles and towels throughout the facility for wiping down equipment.
If there’s a hot tub or swimming pool, ask if the number of users is strictly monitored. In addition, there shouldn’t be a strong chlorine odour, and the room should be properly ventilated.
Proper ventilation and air circulation in the workout areas are also important to reduce bacteria and mould.
When using workout equipment at the gym:
IMAGE: Flickr / lululemon athletica
Locker room floors and shower stalls are the most common places people pick up athlete’s foot (a fungal infection) or plantar warts (caused by human papillomavirus).
To protect against these:
Originally published in Wellness Matters, Canada Wide Media’s quarterly newsletter on health and wellness.