It's a triumphant place—but a dirty, dangerous one, too
The gym locker room is a place to catch your breath, scrub up, and congratulate yourself after crushing a tough workout. But it's also a breeding ground for bacteria.
“The warm and moist environment in the locker room allows for germs and bacteria to be found everywhere,” says Jack Foley, ATC, director of sports medicine and head athletic trainer at Lehigh University. “It’s often the things you can’t see that harm you the most.”
Unfortunately, you can't avoid stripping down and showering—unless your cubicle mates are cool with working next to a sweaty beast. Instead, steer clear of these common locker-room blunders to emerge from the gym germ-free.