5 Ways To Protect Your Ears At The Gym

There are many reasons to go to the gym: to get stronger, to maintain a healthy weight and to feel better about life in general. But while your gym habit is undeniably great for your body and mind, it may be hurting your ears.

The music that plays in the background or during a group workout class keeps you motivated, but the volume may be detrimental to your hearing. In fact, just 45 minutes in an average spin class can expose you to up to nine times the noise exposure recommended for an eight-hour workday.

Here are five ways to protect your hearing while at the gym:

1. Say something. If you find the music in your class uncomfortably loud, ask the instructor to turn the volume down. Chance are you’re not the only one who finds the sound too loud. If the instructor isn’t receptive, speak to a manager.
2. Stay far from the speaker. Your proximity to the speakers changes the decibel level that hits your ears. Before beginning your workout or ahead of your group class, take a minute to spot where the speakers are. Choose a spot as far away from them as possible.
3. Wear earplugs. Protect your ears while working out by using earplugs. These will allow you to hear the music and your instructors verbal cues clearly but at a lower volume.
4. Take breaks. Take frequent water breaks during the loudest part of the class to give your ears a rest from the loud music and sounds in the gym. Even a few minutes away can help.
5. Find a new gym. If your gym is unbearably loud and the instructors and management are unreceptive to your concerns, find a new place to work out. Before signing up for a new membership elsewhere, ask to take a tour of the gym during normal hours and assess the noise level in the regular work out area and during classes.

Have Your Hearing Tested

Have you noticed a change in your hearing since you started going to the gym? If so, or if you’re experiencing a ringing or fullness in your ears that isn’t going away, visit an audiologist for a hearing test.

Hearing Solutions In Calgary And The Rest Of Alberta

If you’re looking for ways to protect your hearing at the gym or you’d like a hearing test to ensure your ears are still working well, Soundwave Hearing Care can help. Contact us today to make an appointment.