New research could have you skipping the gym, and opting for a workout at home.
One study found that three-fourths of weight equipment at the gym was contaminated with cold-causing rhinoviruses, and even wiping surfaces down twice didn't completely nix germs.
As ABC News reports, the sniffles are the least of your worries. MRSA and other types of staph infections can be contracted if a cut or scrape on your skin comes in contact with the bacteria.
And your gym can have its fair share of the stuff, says Jack Foley, director of sports medicine at Lehigh University and coauthor of the National Athletics Trainers' Association report on skin infections. Bacteria, fungi, and viruses can survive in moist spots. like damp locker rooms and sweaty mats and public benches.
