Working out to stop spread of gym germ infections

Working out at the gym is supposed to improve your health. But becoming a leaner, better you can bring bumps along the way from germs lurking in a facility.

Firefighter Andrew Hedley found that out the hard way a wart between his toes got too big to bare, cramping up his daily activities.

It festered and the infected area grew to the size of the quarter size of a golf ball.

“It actually started to affect the way I was walking, running. When I was playing sports, there was a pain shooting about halfway up my leg,” he said.

The wart didn't go away until he went to this foot clinic and had it treated with a laser.

Dr. Iain Palmer said he frequently sees patients coming in with infections from gyms, such as warts and fungal toenail infections. He said even a common infection like athlete's foot can turn serious.

"That can break down the skin down to enable a bacterial infection take hold and bacterial infections are potentially life threatening," said Palmer.

The germs at the gym we pick up our hands can also be problematic. At Park West Fitness, a 24-hour gym, manager Aaron McKay said he's aware of the stories.

“Somebody got strep throat recently. I've had to talk to people about wiping down their equipment and that same person is no longer a member here,” he said.

Both McKay and regular gym buffs said inspections by an outside authority could help stop the spread of gym germs.

"I mean anything can be hiding. It's behind closed doors. You don't really know, so it's a good idea," said Hayley Barbarie, who works out regularly.

Jefferson Greves has been to many facilities across Winnipeg and works on regularly.

"(People with) stomach aches, pink eye. They touch the equipment - they don't wash their hands,” said Greves. “No one's really thinking of how much germs you can get at a gym.”

Some gym goers wear wraps or gloves for an extra layer of protection. The same principle could apply to our feet.

“The only people who wear…flip flops are usually someone who has had an infection or a family member has had an infection,” said Dr. Palmer. “Most people don't."

“I thought they (shower shoes) were stupid, but turns out I was the one who was stupid for not wearing shower shoes,” said Hedley.

In Manitoba, gyms and fitness centres do not have mandatory inspections. The province said they are only investigated on a complaint basis.