Missing the gym? Here’s how to stay safe from coronavirus once yours reopens
Many people who have been abiding by state-mandated “stay-at-home” orders during the COVID-19 pandemic have had to forgo their usual workout routine if they were frequent gym dwellers. If you haven’t had access to a home gym and you’re an exercise guru, you’ve probably been itching to get back into the sanctuary of a treadmill hum.
With states opening back up, most are looking to reopen their gyms sometime soon. Some north Texas gyms are slated to start reopening on Monday at 25% capacity.
First you have to ask yourself, is it really worth the risk?
Dr. Rand McClain, the chief medical officer of LCR Health in California, said that unless you’re a professional athlete and need a training facility, it’s probably not worth potentially exposing yourself to the virus, according to NBC DFW.
While some gyms are reworking their floor plans to increase the distance between machines along with sanitizing more often and requiring that employees wear masks and gloves, it still may be risky.
“The poison is in the dose, OK,” McClain said, as reported by NBC DFW. “The more people you add, the more potential viral pairs you have, the more enclosed the space, the less ventilation, the more potential you have for that transmission. The more people you have coughing, or worse than that, sneezing, the more potential.”
If you’re still set on going, here are tips to help you remain safe when working out at a gym facility.
Wear a mask
Yes, we understand that this might be horribly uncomfortable, especially when doing cardio, but it’s necessary if the machines tend to be close together.
“Most people can perform every and all exercises with a face mask on,” says Grayson Wickham, a physical therapist and certified strength and conditioning specialist to CNET. “You will want to monitor how you’re feeling while exercising and watch out for specific symptoms such as lightheadedness, dizziness, numbness or tingling and shortness of breath.”
Try to go during a dead time
You an early riser? Head to the gym in the sleepy hours of the early morning. Night owl? Head there late. Just makes sure you go when you know it won’t be as packed with people. This means it’s not wise to take any fitness classes at your local gym.
“I discourage the classes now at least, and that’s irrespective of when they [relax] the social distancing,” Dr. Sandra Kesh, an infection disease expert, tells CNET. “I think that’s something to wait until the disease is really down beyond that descending part of the disease curve.”
Bring your own supplies (towel, water, etc.)
Even if your gym provides towels for member use, it’s safer if you bring your own because even if it may look clean, you really never know who has touched it without protective gear.
The “Today” show recommends you bring your own water bottle as well since people touch communal water coolers or a water fountain and it will increase the risk of catching the virus if you touch or use a communal water cooler after someone else.
Going into the pool? Stay away from other swimmers
While the chlorine in the water will inactivate the coronavirus, according to “Today,” it’s best to practice social distancing on frequently touched surfaces.
“Don’t share a lane in a lap pool with someone else,” the show says. “And swimmers should also wash their hands after touching railings, ladders and tiles.”
Always, ALWAYS practice social distancing
Medical lifestyle expert Dr. Eudene Harry was adamant on maintaining a six-foot barrier between the people around you at the gym at all times when speaking to CBS 21.
“It’s very important to remember when going back to the gym, we still have to practice social distancing; it’s even more important in the gym,” Harry said, according to CBS 21. “When we exercise and we are exerting ourselves, our breathing becomes more forceful. So, what that means is, that we may be able to project respiratory droplets even further than when we are just regularly talking and having a conversation.”
This story was originally published May 14, 2020 at 6:45 PM with the headline "Missing the gym? Here’s how to stay safe from coronavirus once yours reopens."