The hygiene conditions of gyms and, generally speaking, of the entire fitness and sports sector, have always been on the radar of the ASLs (Italian Local Health Authorities) with the aim of making the owners of these facilities comply with all the current regulations targeted to guarantee greater safety to all sportsmen and women.
In order to increase the safety of all these people, besides regular maintenance activities (ensuring the proper functioning of the facilities and equipment, avoiding accidents or damage to the health of the athlete caused by their malfunctions), health is also guaranteed by disinfection activities.
The humidity found in areas such as showers, changing rooms, swimming pools, saunas, Turkish baths, toilets, as well as equipment such as dumbbells, treadmills and all those present in the weights room, makes all these places ideal environments for the proliferation of viruses, germs, bacteria, fungi, moulds, spores and many other pathogens that can cause influences, infections, skin diseases (e.g. fungi and warts) and respiratory problems.
Furthermore, in indoor environments, the presence of air and water systems – sometimes not properly maintained – increases the risk of legionella infections.
Last but not least, other components can make these common areas less comfortable and welcoming: dust, chemical residues of detergents used to clean rooms, small weeping insects (e.g. mites, flies, mosquitoes), bad smells.
It is well known that an athlete is more exposed to the risk of contagion than a person who does not practice physical activity. In fact, it has been demonstrated that, following physical activity (up to 72 hours from the end), the so-called “open window” phenomenon occurs in athletes’ life, i.e. a period of time during which, due to physical effort, their immune system is unable to guarantee a correct defence against pathogens in the environment. Lymphocytes are in fact activated in the blood before and during sporting activity, but their concentration is considerably reduced when the activity is over.
In order to mitigate these risks, it is therefore very important to carry out regular disinfection works in sports environments.