Many athletes are currently only able to practice their sports at home or outdoors as fitness studios throughout Germany have had to close down since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic in March 2020 as a measure to slow down the outbreak of the coronavirus. Therefore, the Chair of Exercise Biology headed by Prof. Dr. Henning Wackerhage has published a concept paper on the reopening of fitness studios after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic together with, among others, Occupational Health Dr. Andrea Dietlmeier, the Scottish virologist Prof. Dr. Roger Everett, the lawyer Prof. Dr. Angela Lindfeld and the fitness expert Prof. Dr. Stephan Geisler. The paper is also supported by the German Industrial Association for Fitness and Health e.V. (DIFG) for all fitness studio operators.
The core contents of the concept paper, which was also prepared with the assistance of Research Associate Dr. Martin Schönfelder, include a five-point plan for infection prevention in fitness studios and a detailed checklist for its implementation. Furthermore, frequently asked questions about COVID-19 and fitness studios are also answered. “In the context of occupational health and safety, the operators of fitness studios have to assess the risks posed by the coronavirus and then define measures to minimise the risk of infection”, explains Prof. Dr. Henning Wackerhage. “In North Rhine-Westphalia, fitness studios were also allowed to reopen, and, we have heard that our concept has helped in the preparation of implementing regulations by the State Secretariat for Sport and Volunteering in NRW."
The following measures were proposed in the five-point plan:
- Employee training covering the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus, the COVID-19 disease caused by it, infection routes, disinfection, and risk groups. Owners of fitness studios should also inform their employees daily, e.g. by e-mail, about the development of case numbers in the district and in Germany (Robert-Koch-Institute-Dashboard).
- Information for members: Members are somewhat anxious and need to be informed about how their gym is being reorganised and what concrete measures will reduce the risk of SARS-CoV-2 infection.
- Adjusting operations at the gym to avoid droplet, aerosol, and smear infections.
- Protection of COVID-19 risk groups via information and special protective measures.
- Procedural planning to react quickly and in a coordinated manner if, for example, a member with COVID-19 symptoms visits the fitness studio or if a member reports that they have tested positive for the coronavirus after visiting the studio.
Based on these five points, the checklist contains further sub-items with measures and recommendations that fitness studio operators can implement successively. “The aim is to acceptably minimize the risk of contracting the coronavirus in a gym and to ensure that risk groups are afforded special protection”, said Prof. Wackerhage. “The checklist we have developed as part of the concept paper could contribute to achieving these goals. Ultimately, a checklist to tick off is easier to use than a simple document with suggestions."
In the final FAQs, which contains a total of eleven questions, questions concerning the re-opening of fitness studios and staff training are subsequently answered. Additionally, video tutorials for staff training were also produced which can be found on the DIFG website and simplify staff training procedures.
To the homepage of the Chair of Exercise Biology
To the homepage of the German Industrial Association for Fitness and Health e. V. (DIFG)
Contact:
Prof. Dr. Henning Wackerhage
Chair of Exercise Biology
Georg-Brauchle Ring 60/62
80992 München
phone: 089 289 24480
e-mail: Henning.Wackerhage(at)tum.de
Text: Romy Schwaiger
Photos: Online platform “Health needs Fitness“