Pilates is a full-body workout you can do at home that’s not as scary as it looks
These are 5 home Pilates exercises that you can do at home. Training is not as scary as it looks.
america today
A matching set from Lululemon, hair ties, grip socks, and… Lysol wipes?
“Pilates girls” and college students alike pay more than $400 a month for unlimited memberships at Solid Core, an upscale fitness company known for its high-intensity reformer workouts.
But some solid-core enthusiasts are sharing on Reddit and TikTok why they’ve started packing disinfectant wipes in their gym bags before heading into the studio, and it’s all down to a nasty infection known as ringworm, or its counterpart, athlete’s foot.
Solidcore falls into the same growing fitness category as other Lagree studios like SLT and Pilates-inspired studios like BodyRok, and dermatologists say ringworm isn’t a problem unique to any one brand, even if one company is currently underperforming. Gyms have long been breeding grounds for fungal infections, experts say, but there are steps athletes can take to reduce their risk.
Multiple customers shared on Reddit that they contracted ringworm after visiting Solid Core studios. On the r/Solidcore subreddit, people expressed frustration with the fitness studio’s lack of communication after suspecting that the ringworm infection came from a store in downtown Brooklyn.
Solid Core did not respond to multiple requests for comment.
“It really bothers me that I only hear about ringworm outbreaks on Reddit,” they wrote, adding that publicizing the outbreak “could put pressure on customers to maintain better gym hygiene.”
“This is the worst number of people I’ve ever seen leaving without even touching a wipe,” the post added.
Clients have stated that they are expected to clean their machines after each class, and the turnaround time between sessions is very strict, starting at 5am in the morning and ending at 10pm at night. This is a common practice at various boutique fitness studios, but many commenters criticized that if the fees are so high, the companies should do more to prevent the spread of bacteria and infections such as ringworm. Another Reddit user, who identified himself as a Solidcore coach, commented that the machines were “thoroughly cleaned every night” by professional cleaners.
Here’s what experts want gym-goers to know about ringworm.
What is ringworm?
Don’t be fooled by the name. Ringworm has nothing to do with parasites.
Rather, the name comes from the itchy, ring-shaped rash caused by a fungal infection. Signs may start as a small ring that spreads outward and include a clear or scaly area in the center.
It can be transmitted through direct skin-to-skin contact with an infected person, contact with an animal infected with Trichophyton, contact with highly infected soil, or contact with an object (such as gym equipment) that an infected person has recently touched.
“Gyms are an ideal environment for fungi because they’re warm, humid, and have a lot of shared surfaces,” says Dr. Anthony Rossi, a double board-certified dermatologist. Common sources include shared yoga and exercise mats, locker room floors, weight benches, towels, and shared sports equipment and shower areas, Rossi said.
While online conversations can fuel fears about the potential for spread, Dr. Dina Strachan, a board-certified dermatologist at Aglow Dermatology in Manhattan, said she hasn’t heard of any major outbreaks in New York.
“It’s itchy, it’s uncomfortable, and it can spread…but that’s always a danger in the gym,” Strachan says.
For most healthy people, ringworm is “more of a nuisance than a serious medical problem,” Rossi says. But he and Strachan caution that more serious bacterial infections and sepsis can occur, although they are rare, so people with weakened immune systems or diabetes should seek medical advice.
If left untreated, ringworm can spread to other parts of the body and other people. When an infection appears on the feet, it is called “athlete’s foot.” Good news: Several non-prescription (over-the-counter) antifungal medications are available. For more prevalent ringworm, your health care provider can prescribe oral antifungal medications.
‘Studio is so bad’ but client says ‘I don’t have a choice’
On the r/Solidcore subreddit, a college student from Rice Village Studio in Houston, Texas, posted in late June that he noticed a red circle on his forearm in the same spot he makes contact with the reformer during planks.
She asked USA TODAY to withhold her name to protect her Reddit anonymity and because she is an active Solidcore member, but said it’s hard not to want to quit working out.
“Studio is so bad, it really sucks. It’s literally the only training in that category so you don’t have a choice,” she says. “Unfortunately, there’s nothing like it. It’s very effective.”
She said her symptoms subsided after using an over-the-counter fungal cream and she has already returned to training classes.
But concerns about cleanliness are common across fitness studios. On r/barrysbootcamp, users posted about the lack of gym etiquette among fellow athletes when it comes to wiping sweat.
Part of the frustration stems from the high cost of training. Some members argue that, given the price, full-time staff should clean between sessions. Even with student discounts, Rice Village customers told USA TODAY they pay about $300 a month in membership fees. She said she often notices people who don’t mind cleaning their machines, but end the class without doing the same.
“We all just put bungee cords around our bare feet and[people]didn’t even touch them with wipes, and now the next class is going to do the same thing. It’s so bad,” she says.
How to prevent ringworm
Preventing ringworm is easy, but not foolproof.
It all comes down to “protecting the skin barrier and minimizing exposure,” says Rossi. He recommends wiping down equipment before and after use, using your own towels and avoiding sharing towels, clothing, and personal items, wearing flip-flops in locker rooms and communal showers, and avoiding lounging in sweaty workout gear after your session. It also helps you wash your gym clothes after every use.
Socks requirements vary by studio. Some companies, such as SLT and Club Pilates, require them for safety and hygiene reasons. Things like Solid Core and New York Pilates are not like that. However, choosing to wear socks over the reformer can reduce exposure to fungi on the machine.
The bottom line? “With good hygiene, early detection, and appropriate antifungal treatment, ringworm can be a very manageable condition,” Rossi said.
“There’s no reason for people to be afraid, but it’s worth taking simple precautions,” he said.
