Heading back to the gym? Be very careful

Dr P Venkata Krishnan

he pandemic has taken a toll on our physical health. Lockdown and social distancing measures have made us apprehensive of going out and exercising. Gyms and yoga centres are opening soon after a long break, and you might be looking forward to the exercise sessions. But since you are going to the gym after a long time while the pandemic is still on, you need to carefully wipe any equipment or areas which you’re going to touch with an alcohol-based sanitiser and practice good respiratory hygiene.

According to health experts, physical activity is an essential part of life and exercising at least 30 minutes every day is a must to maintain good health. You should, however, be aware of the fact that there has been no reduction in the transmission risks. So if you can manage your workouts at home, it still is the best option. However, if you have to go to the gym, then consider taking the following precautions before hitting the gym:

Carry your gear Every time you go to the gym, carry your own sanitiser, clean towels, masks, disinfectant wipes, yoga mats, etc. to minimise cross-contamination.

Assess your area Avoid going to the gym if there is an upsurge of infection in the area where you live or where the gym is located. Asymptomatic patients with Covid-19 can also spread the virus.

Maintain social distancing If you are satisfied with the safety measures your gym is taking and are ready to join back, then maintain social distance. Avoid haste at all costs.

Disinfect the equipment Gyms are shared spaces but equipment sharing is not ideal right now. Ask them to disinfect shared equipment such as weighted plates, barbells, dumbbells, treadmills, cycling machines, etc. before using. Avoid using foam rollers and exercise balls.

Avoid using the sauna Humid areas can be tricky and nobody knows the exact effects of heat on the coronavirus yet.

Watch your health Do not step out of the house if you are not feeling well. Whether or not you have Covid-19, it is not a good idea to go to shared places like offices and gyms when you are ill because infection spreads at these places at a very high rate. Make sure that your fellow gym members follow the same rules for mutual protection.

Check ventilation An indoor location that is not properly ventilated is a cesspool of all kinds of bacteria and viruses, especially since persistent sweating also adds to the humidity and heat levels inside the gym. Avoid gyms that do not have adequate ventilation, or are located in basements.

Call ahead Call your local gym management or trainers to see what their opening hours are, to check what measures they are taking, how they are going to maintain those measures, etc. Ask if they are checking employees and members’ temperature on entry, regularly disinfecting the equipment, maintaining physical distance between gym goers if they have different exercise pods, marking or something different to maintain distance, Or if they are scheduling workouts to reduce congestion. Knowing how they are responding to this crisis will be your best way to assess the risks. If a gym is not able to provide you with the necessary protection, it is better to avoid it until the situation improves.

Thus, there is a lot to consider before you decide to go back to the gym. Remember the safest place for one to exercise is outdoors. Opting for outdoor or virtual workouts is your safest bet.

— The writer is senior consultant, Paras Hospital, Gurugram