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Which begs the question: How gross is it really to not wipe down shared gym equipment?
What germs can linger on gym equipment?
family medicine physician
Even though its been screamed from the rooftops,not everyone washes their hands.
Additionally, as humans, we breatheand our breath can also harbor germs.
Dr. Johnson adds that staph is particularly common in gyms.
The more dangerous and contagious form of staph is methicillin-resistant staph aureus aka MRSA.
And MRSA can stick around on shared gym equipment as well as in changing rooms.
While less likely on the gym floor, Dr. Johnson says that fungi can be prevalent in the bathrooms.
Because of this, Dr. Johnson says to never shower or walk in a common area barefoot.
As far as viruses, Dr. Johnson says theres also HPV, which can cause warts.
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Which pieces of equipment harbor the most germs?
How long does it take for bacteria to grow on equipment?
Theres no single hard-and-fast answer here.
It depends on the equipment, and the conditions of the facility, Olinger says.
So what should you do?
Even with health-focused protocols in place, germs are just about everywhere in gyms.
However, the important thing is staying protected from ones that can cause infection.
In addition to being mindful of gym equipment hygiene, Olinger says to think about personal hygiene, too.
Namely, dont touch your face.
While working out, many people tend to touch their face to wipe away sweat, she says.
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