Editor’s note: Consult your doctor before starting a new exercise program. If you feel pain, stop immediately.
CNN
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When the CoVID-19 pandemic was spreading, careful cleaning of exercise equipment was the norm. But today you can pay less attention to pathogens, even in crowded places like fitness centers.
That negligence That could be a problem, experts say, because gyms contain potentially harmful germs.
About 75 percent of swab samples taken from fitness equipment such as dumbbells, treadmills and exercise mats tested positive for Staphylococcus aureus. 2018 study In Journal of Environmental and Public Health. Staphylococcus aureus is a type of bacteria and Causes most infections.
While Staphylococcus aureus is found on many gym surfaces, exercise mats are especially germy. That’s partly because each carries a microbial cloud, said Jason Tetro, host of the popular Canadian podcast “The Super Cool Science Show.”
“Trillions of microbes come off us like dead skin cells. They can be shed at the rate of 1 million per hour. If microbes were visible, we’d all look like pigs,” Tetro said in the “Peanuts” comedy. said, referring to Patti’s character.
Shedding these microbes on an exercise mat versus dumbbells is especially problematic, Tetro said, because exercise mats are like petri dishes. Usually made of a soft, porous material filled with tiny pores, they easily trap oil, dead skin cells, and sweat that you shed when you exercise. Bacteria and fungi see this detritus as food, which helps them thrive, as does the humid environment created when you sweat.
These pathogens usually enter your body through small cuts or carpet burns. They can also enter your hands, then your body, when you touch your face, something people do about 50 times an hour. 2020 review In History of Global Health.
Depending on the pathogen you contract from your exercise mat, you may develop the common cold, flu, stomach flu, pink eye or athlete’s foot. International Sports Science Association. But a bigger concern is methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus, or MRSA, said Dr. Chuck Gerba, professor of virology at the University of Arizona in Tucson.
MRSA is a particularly dangerous Staphylococcus aureus variant that is resistant to many antibiotics and can cause sepsis or death if left untreated, US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Warns about One-third of people carry MRSA. On their skin or in their nose, the CDC speculates, and it could be. Rapid expansion of health clubs Through shared equipment and skin-to-skin contact.
Cleaning and disinfection are key to safety.
Don’t let this information make you ditch your exercise mat. All you have to do is carefully clean and disinfect it to be safe. Most fitness centers have disinfectant wipes or sprays available for this purpose. Spray or wipe the entire mat, then let the solution dry before use, Garba said.
“Most users spray the mat and clean it right away, but not enough for the disinfectant to kill anything,” he said. “The other problem is that if they’re using cloth, the disinfectant gets mixed with the cloth and makes it less effective.”
Garba said a better practice is to bring a pack of disinfectant wipes to the gym and use them. Wipes contain the right amount of disinfectant to kill germs, which is another important factor. If you are spraying the mat yourself, you may not be using enough disinfectant to do the job.
Tetro said you should leave the disinfectant on the mat for as long as the product instructions say. This is usually about three minutes, although it can be less than one minute.
Another way to prevent germs is to cover the exercise mat with a towel before use.
“If it’s your towel and it’s fresh, you’re less likely to come in contact with what’s on the mat,” Tetro said. “But don’t reuse that towel, or it could still give you germs. Wash it right away.”
Many people use their own exercise mat at home or at the gym. Using your own mat — especially at home — will reduce the chance you’ll pick up germs from others, two experts said. However, you still need to clean and disinfect it, though not as often.
Cleaning involves removing surface dirt, sweat and grime and can be done using mild soap and water. Disinfection requires the use of a commercial disinfectant that kills germs and bacteria. When using your mat — at home or at the gym — you should clean it after every use, Tetro said, although you only need to sterilize it after 10 uses.
“Be sure to use a disinfectant cleaner on your mat,” Garba said. “Some people use natural oils and other products, but they don’t kill the organisms, or at least not to the extent you want.”
Using an antimicrobial mat may also be helpful. These are effective in inhibiting the growth of bacteria, Tetro said. You still need to clean and disinfect them, but don’t treat them like a normal mat.
Another good practice to stay healthy is to wash your hands thoroughly before leaving the gym, even if you’re using your mat.
Tetro and Garba said that all these precautions are not meant to scare people but to inform them.
“The onus is on you to be safe,” Tetro said. “Make sure you’re doing what’s necessary to keep yourself safe.”
Melanie Radzky McManus is a freelance writer specializing in hiking, travel and fitness.
