Commercial exercise mats are found in gyms, school and training centers for various sports. The mats are a safety precaution against injuries that may be sustained from contact with hard surfaces, and help to make exercising more comfortable. Exercise mats come in a wide variety of shapes, sizes and levels of thickness. Each mat has a different application, and understanding the differences may help you become a more informed consumer.
Rubber Mats
Rubber exercise mats are the most common form of commercial exercise mats. Used in gyms to prevent injury and cushion the flooring against dropping weights, the mats come in a variety of types and thickness levels. Rubber mats are commonly made of recycled materials, and can come as large mats that can be rolled out over a floor, or as tiles that can be fit together to cushion smaller areas.
Martial Arts and Boxing Mats
Sports like martial arts and boxing require a padded surface to lessen the severity of injuries associated with falling down onto hard surfaces. Exercise mats for martial arts and boxing are designed with shock absorption in mind, and provide adequate gripping surfaces. Some of these mats are designed to mimic the surfaces you may encounter in a competition. Types range from large carpet-styled mats to interlocking tiles.
Cheerleading and Tumbling Mats
The sports of cheerleading and tumbling are tough on the lower back, ankles, wrists and knee joints. These sports require cushioning from hard surfaces, and mats designed for cheerleading and tumbling are manufactured to meet these concerns. Cheerleading and tumbling mats are made of closed cell foam, and come in carpet or uncarpeted versions. These mats are light, can be rolled up and are easy to transport to and from a training facility
Folding Commercial-grade Mats
Folding commercial-grade mats are used in gyms and therapy centers. These mats are made of smaller sections of foam covered in vinyl. They can be folded up and transported very easily, and many feature Velcro closures and handles for easy transportation. In gyms these mats are used for exercises performed on flat surfaces such as sit-ups; in therapy settings the mats are used to provide padding for stretching and rehabilitation exercises.
Commercial Yoga and Pilates Mats
Many gyms do not require participants in yoga and Pilates classes to purchase their own mats, choosing to provide mats instead. While this may save students money, these mats are often thin and do not offer much padding. You may want to stack two mats together to add more padding.
Prevention/Solution
Germs can be found on many gym surfaces, including mats. Sweating, coughing and contacting a mat surface with an infected body part can help introduce germs to the mats. To prevent developing skin irritations or becoming sick, wipe off the surface of a shared mat with an antibacterial product. Many gyms provide antibacterial wipes and sprays for use by customers.
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