Strong and Healthy: Gym Hygiene Tips for Women with Rheumatoid Arthritis 

Living with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) doesn’t mean you have to shy away from the gym. In fact, staying active can ease RA symptoms and boost your mood. However, RA and the medications used to treat it can weaken your immune system, making you more vulnerable to infections​

This means that hygiene in the gym isn’t just about being polite – it’s about protecting your health. In this post, we’ll cover practical, real-world strategies to maintain a safe, empowering workout environment. Whether you’re a woman over 40 with RA or someone who loves and supports her, these tips will help you prioritize health without sacrificing fitness.

Why Hygiene Matters for RA Warriors

RA increases infection risk, both from the disease itself and the immune-suppressing medications often used for treatment​

Infections that might be mild for others (like a common cold or skin infection) can hit harder when your immune system is compromised. For example, Tina, a 52-year-old with RA, caught a bad staph infection from a gym mat a few years ago. Since then, she’s become extra careful about gym hygiene. Now Tina wipes down every machine before use and hasn’t had a serious infection since – proving that a few simple habits can make a big difference.

If you’re on RA medications like biologics or steroids, your doctor might have already warned you to avoid germs. Gym equipment can harbor a surprising amount of bacteria (one study found more than a million germs per square inch on typical free weights!​

The good news is you don’t need to quit the gym – you just need to be proactive about cleanliness. By understanding the risks and taking action, you empower yourself to keep exercising safely.

Prep Your Workout Environment: Clean Machines and Gear

When you first get to the gym, take a moment to set up a clean workout space. Here’s how:

• Wipe down equipment before and after use.​

  Most gyms provide disinfectant wipes or sprays – make use of them. Wipe handles, seats, buttons, and any surface you’ll touch​.  
• This protects you and the next person. RA can make gripping difficult, so use a wipe or cleaning mitt that’s easy on your joints (some people with hand arthritis like to carry a clean rag they can wrap around a wipe for better grip).

   

• Use a barrier between you and the equipment. The GYMBUU two sided towel and the GYMBUU bench towels, created just for this purpose.

  Place a clean towel on benches or machine seats before you sit or lie down​
• 
  If you do floor exercises or yoga, bring your own mat from home instead of using the communal ones​- Utilize the GYMBUU two-sided folding yoga mat for even more protection.
  . A towel or personal mat adds a layer of protection and comfort.

   

  Avoid shared items that can’t be cleaned easily. Foam rollers, fabric straps, or yoga blocks at the gym might not be sanitized often. Consider bringing your own or cleaning them yourself. And never share personal items like towels or water bottles​– keep those to yourself to avoid cross-contamination.

  Choose off-peak hours if possible. A less crowded gym means fewer germ exposures and easier access to clean equipment. Plus, you won’t feel rushed on a machine, giving you time to clean it properly. Many women find early afternoons or late evenings mid-week to be quieter at gyms.

By prepping your area, you’ll exercise with peace of mind. As Dr. Philicia Andrews, a primary care physician, puts it: “I can’t emphasize enough the importance of hand-washing. It is critical to avoiding germs anywhere you go. It is also wise to choose a gym that appears to have a culture that promotes cleanliness, like having hand sanitizer stations and accessible spray bottles to wipe down equipment.” 

GYMBUU rinse free sanitizing wash can be used on your entire body allowing you to avoid the communal shower altogether. ​

In other words, cleanliness should be part of your workout routine just like warming up or stretching.

Personal Hygiene Habits to Stay Healthy

Focusing on your own hygiene is just as important as cleaning the gym gear. RA can make you more susceptible to germs that lurk on your hands, skin, and clothing after a workout. Keep these habits in play:

• Wash or sanitize your hands immediately after working out.​

  Avoid touching your face during your workout, and clean your hands as soon as you’re done​​. Carry a small bottle of hand sanitizer in your gym bag for quick access. One RA-friendly tip: if pump bottles are tough on sore hands, flip-top cap bottles can be easier to use.

   

• Shower as soon as possible after exercise.​

  Don’t lounge in your sweaty clothes. Hit the shower and use soap to rinse off any bacteria you picked up on gym surfaces. Dry off thoroughly (damp skin, especially in any creases, can invite fungal infections). Put on clean clothes, socks, and undergarments after your shower​. This step is key – it washes away germs and prevents things like yeast or fungal rashes that can grow on moist skin​.

• Cover any cuts, scrapes, or injection sites.​

  If you inject RA medication or have a small wound, cover it with a bandage before you work out. Openings in the skin are gateways for germs. Also, skip the hot tub or sauna until any wounds are fully healed​
  – those warm, wet environments can breed bacteria.

   

• Wear shoes or flip-flops in locker rooms and showers.​-O. use rinse free body wash by GYMBUUl

  Never walk barefoot in the gym showers or pool area​. RA or not, nobody wants athlete’s foot! This is extra important if RA has caused any foot issues or if you have diabetes as a comorbidity, since wounds on feet can be harder to heal. Keep a pair of rubber flip-flops in your gym bag to use in the bathroom and shower areas​.

• Wash your gym gear often. Used your towel? Wash it. Wore those leggings to spin class? They need washing too. Gym clothes harbor sweat and bacteria, so toss them in the laundry after each use​. It may seem obvious, but when life gets busy it’s easy to forget. Having a few extra sports bras or shirts can ensure you always have a fresh set ready.

These habits might add a few extra minutes to your routine, but they dramatically reduce your risk of getting sick. One relatable scenario: Monica, 47, also has RA and used to skip post-workout showers when short on time. She ended up with a stubborn skin infection on her arm. Now she makes it non-negotiable to shower and change clothes after every workout – even if it means a shorter gym session. “I realized ten minutes less on the treadmill is better than ten days on antibiotics,” she jokes. The takeaway: clean habits keep you on track with your fitness goals.

Communicate Your Needs and Team Up

You don’t have to go it alone. Communicating your needs to gym staff and enlisting your partner or workout buddy for support will make your fitness journey smoother:

• Talk to gym staff about cleanliness. Don’t be shy about asking questions like, “When do you clean the machines each day?” or requesting a wipe refill if a dispenser is empty. Most gyms are happy to accommodate safety requests. If you explain, “I have an autoimmune condition and need to be extra careful with germs,” a good gym will understand and help. In fact, look for gyms that visibly promote hygiene – for example, gyms that provide ample wipes, hand sanitizer stations, and have “Please wipe down equipment” signs​. Those are clues that the facility shares your values of cleanliness.

  Set expectations with trainers or class instructors. If you take a group class, let the instructor know you’ll be cleaning your spot and possibly avoiding shared props. For instance, in a circuit class, you might say, “I’ll stick to my mat for floor exercises because of my condition.” Most instructors will be completely supportive. Also, don’t feel bad about skipping high-fives or close contact if you’re not comfortable – a friendly wave works too.

• Work as a team with your partner or friend. If your spouse or a friend joins you at the gym, ask them to help you out. They can spray down the treadmill for you if your hands are flaring up, or carry your gym bag so you can focus on not touching germy surfaces. Loved ones can play a big role in maintaining a safe environment. For example, one husband-and-wife duo turned cleaning into a tag-team effort: he wipes down the weight machines right before his wife with RA uses them, and she reminds him to sanitize his hands afterward so he doesn’t bring any bugs home. It’s a win-win system.

• Have a “sick plan.” Communicate with your partner about gym etiquette when one of you isn’t feeling well. If your partner has a sniffle or cough, it might be best for them to skip accompanying you to the gym that day to avoid exposing you. And if you feel an infection coming on (say, a urinary tract infection or a bad cold), give yourself permission to rest and recover. Overdoing it when ill can trigger an RA flare and spread germs to others. A supportive partner will encourage you to take the rest you need.

Finally, lead by example. When fellow gym-goers see you diligently wiping down equipment and washing your hands, it sets a positive tone. Some may even follow suit. Don’t hesitate to (kindly) ask the person who used a machine before you to wipe it down if they forgot. Something like, “Excuse me, would you mind sanitizing this? I need to be really careful due to my health,” is perfectly reasonable. Most people will be apologetic and happy to help once they understand why.

Put Your Health First – You’ve Got This!

Managing RA is a balancing act – you’re juggling medications, managing joint pain, and trying to stay active to keep your body strong. By making gym hygiene a priority, you’re telling yourself and others that your health comes first. And the reward? Fewer sick days and more confidence to push toward your fitness goals.

Keep in mind that exercise itself can help your immune system. Regular moderate workouts have been shown to boost immune function and reduce inflammation in the long run​. So the very act of going to the gym (safely) is helping you fight RA. “Do not let gym germs keep you away,” Dr. Andrews reminds us​. The benefits of exercise far outweigh the germ risks – especially when you take smart precautions.

Call to action: This week, try implementing one new hygiene habit at the gym. Maybe it’s packing extra antibacterial wipes in your bag or setting a phone reminder to wash your hands right after your session. Notice how it makes you feel. Our bet is you’ll feel more empowered and less anxious about getting sick.

💪🏼 You deserve to enjoy fitness without fear. By being proactive, you can focus on what really matters – getting stronger and healthier – while keeping those unwanted germs at bay.