Is your gym contagious?

Take an easy precaution to ensure that your favorite workout center doesn't make you ill.

By WINA STURGEON, Adventure Sports Weekly

Last update: November 8, 2009 - 9:38 PM

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The big media scare story of the moment is the swine flu. People are using tissues to turn doorknobs and are staying away from crowds. Schools are closed down when a few students come down with it. A lot more hand washing is going on.

But can you get the swine flu from your gym? The answer is yes.

Think about that nasty dumbbell that's been gripped by who-knows-how-many sweaty hands. Imagine how often the pin for a machine weight stack has been pinched between someone's thumb and forefinger; the same two digits that they used to catch a cough or wipe a nose. You may avoid touching doorknobs with your bare hands, but what about the contamination of the pull-down bar on the lat machine?

Worse, the gym is a place where people sweat a lot and breathe hard. One infected person in a crowded aerobics class can do a lot of damage.

Even if you've already received the swine flu vaccine, the flu is not the only contagious illness going around. In this late transition season, where we flick back and forth from the dregs of autumn to the cold weather of winter, everyone is more susceptible to picking up a cold or other virus. And, although the H1N1 strain is dominant, it's not the only strain of flu out there.

Taking precautions at the gym has not yet become commonplace, but it soon will. You can start now to protect yourself.

Mix up a solution of half isopropyl alcohol (rubbing alcohol) and water in a spray bottle. Put this in a small backpack with a roll of paper towels and a plastic bag. Before using any free weight or machine, spray the surface you will be touching with a good shot of the alcohol mixture. Wait at least 30 seconds, then wipe it dry with a paper towel. Put the used towel in the plastic bag.

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