Health club or gym is a healthy place to be in. After all, working out boosts your immune system makes you fit, burns calories, builds strength and helps you feel good… Isn’t it BUT here is a catch It’s a public place, and being a public place it also happens to be a breeding ground for germs, dirt  and other things that can take the fun and  health out of the window.

I noticed this in one of my patient who had fungal infection in both feet  which we commonly refer to as athlete’s foot   and every time she came for therapy we had to sanitize everything her feet touched and then we thought of finding the cause and source of infection as every time she got the anti fungal treatment done up she was again infected.  We would have never been able to detect the source of infection if she didn’t brought her friend for inch loss therapy 2 days back. When we were about to start her friend’s therapy…. had the same problem so we had to do the same procedure in her case as well we even sanitized the slippers they used  and we also found that  they both were going to the same gym and their gym is one of the costliest in Chandigarh with one of the best facilities that money can buy. So let me assure you that you guys are not immune to this problem because it is universal in every gym. Hygiene and prevention is the only permanent cure.

We told them  to wear slippers in the shower at gym and locker room area to prevent picking up foot fungus which was the sourse of infection in there case but did you know that even bacteria is present on almost all floor areas of the locker room floor whether it is tiled or carpeted.  Even if your health club looks immaculate and well maintained, Infections like athlete’s foot  which is called as tinea pedis, Onychomycosis another strange soundind infection causes yellow and brittle nails is also common and then there are human papillomavirus, which causes plantar warts, can also be on the floor of locker room. More popular is the gym higher are the chances of getting these infections.

Unless the owner of  your gym is a Doctor, there are some thing that you can do to Protect Yourself, here is How

 Don’t let your bare feet hit the ground at the health club that’s it.

Keep wearing those slippers in the shower and all around the locker room. Always wash and dry your feet thoroughly, consider using anti-fungal powder in your workout shoes if you have athlete’s foot and wear synthetic socks that you change often. Also, be sure not to dry off with a towel that dropped on the floor, especially if you have an open cut. Just a brief bit of contact can transfer bacteria to you!!! So don’t use it if you dropped it… PERIOD… Doesn’t apply on spouse…LOL

Infection can also be transmitted by sharing footwear with an infected person, or less commonly, by sharing towels with an infected person so carry your own towels and your own slippers.

All health clubs and gyms should have a disinfecting spray or wipes and they should use it. We at NidSun sanitize every equipment immediately after therapy sessions, every single time and I think it is necessary for every ones safety.

Eat Good Live Good and Stay Protected