Though people are no more likely to catch a disease from gym equipment than a common household object, sanitation at fitness centers, such as Ping Center, is still a concern for users.
According to an article in Muscle & Fitness magazine, www.muscle-fitness.co, four major types of microorganisms are common to public gyms: bacteria such as staph and other skin infections; protozoa, which are found in unsanitary hot tubs and pools; viruses such as the cold and flu; and fungi such as athlete's foot, jock itch and ringworm.
However, germs spread in a public fitness environment are no different than those on a doorknob, a pencil or a bathroom door, said Charles Hart, director of the Environmental Health and Safety Department at Ohio University.
For someone to pick up a disease from an object or through personal contact, a chain of infection must occur, Hart said. Typically, precautionary steps such as hand washing, covering one's mouth while sneezing and cleaning and disinfecting equipment can interrupt the chain.
Ping offers users wipes and alcohol-based hand sanitizers -like Purell -to try to stop the chain of infection
said Hafedh Benhadj, Ping Center director.
Fitness assistants at Ping are required to use spray disinfectant to clean the equipment in their area twice during a 3.5-to 4-hour shift, he said. Ping does not provide a spray bottle of disinfectant for student use because it is costly and could ruin the electronics, so the staff is in charge of cleaning.
Ping spends about $1,000 each year on cleaning supplies for the 130 pieces of cardiovascular equipment and 100 pieces of weight resistance equipment.
Indiana University, one of OU's official peer institutions, spends about $500 a year to clean 487 pieces of fitness equipment, assistant director of Fitness/Wellness Bryan Stednitz wrote in an e-mail.
The University of Cincinnati spends more than $2,500 on cleaning supplies for 42 cardiovascular machines and 55 strength machines, Kendra Violet, assistant director of recreation wrote in an e-mail.
To help keep Ping sanitary, patrons are required to wear T-shirts and are prohibited from wearing cut-off sleeves, tank tops or street clothes. Also, if anyone is injured, an emergency maintenance crew comes on site to clean any blood.
With the more common sanitation measures, Hart said, Ping does a good job.
In my opinion generally speaking a piece of equipment disinfected several times within a couple of hours would seem reasonable to me
Hart said.
However, some OU students are uncomfortable with that fact that spray bottles and towels are not provided throughout the center for individual use.
While freshman Liz Gertz said the fitness equipment is well-kept, she also suggested that Ping put cleaning supplies, like the gym wipes, in a central area or along the walls, because most users do not realize the wipes are even available.
I see the (fitness assistants) making their rounds every once and a while
but it seems like they are always using the same rag and basically just smearing the sweat from one machine to the next
said freshman Ryan Lynch.
Though some Ping users might think sweaty machines are gross
sweat is not generally considered a big hazard, Hart said.
Anytime you use something
some organism could be on there a second later when someone else uses it
but that doesn't mean that any disease is (necessarily) going to occur
he said.
