Wrestler and bodybuilder Carl O’Reilly has been an advocate for keeping gyms classed as an essential service during the lockdown. In an exclusive sit down with the City.ie, Carl speaks about the importance of exercise and gyms during these tough times, and how many personal trainers are struggling to adapt to a new business based solely on digital technology.
Tag: Gym
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How much does sports contribute to the high COVID case numbers?
All local sports clubs and gyms are completely closed now, taking away a necessary outlet for exercise and mental health from many nationwide. Conn McGillion investigates whether sports activities were spreading the Covid-19 virus.
Photo taken by TLC Photography. Sourced from Flickr. From June to August, there have been only fourteen positive cases reported nationwide across all sports clubs within GAA, rugby and football, according to documents received by the HSE in accordance with the FOI (Freedom of Information) act. According to the documents, under five of these cases were reported from within Dublin, and the other nine cases were scattered around the rest of the country. These cases came after all sports clubs had restrictions lifted in June to train in a controlled environment.
Prior to the second lockdown, diagnosed cases were at an all time high. 1000+ case daily have become the norm from August to September. Only fourteen cases nationwide across three months is indicative that sports clubs, and gyms, are not a primary spreader at all in comparison to the likes of restaurants and factories. In fact, many of those cases come from one isolated incident.
An example of this would be in the GAA. Claughan United in Limerick had tested a player positive in mid-August, and the safety precautions were immediately taken. The player, who was asymptomatic, was instantly placed in quarantine, along with the entire club and the local rugby club, Shannon RFC. Claughan released a statement at the time, suspending all club activities indefinitely, after careful consideration was given to correct procedures regarding self-isolation and efficient testing.
The majority of the cases came from a club in Clare, Cratloe. Cratloe had six players who tested positive for Covid on the 7th of August. While they quarantined those initial positive cases on the day, they initially continued their activities – as the virus began to spread, they were forced to abruptly put a stop to their training.
While cases such as these are reckless, they are not indicative of how the majority of sports clubs react – many of the sports clubs are happy to abide by the government guidelines, and adhere to them properly. Sports-related case numbers are not comparable to large outbreaks in the likes of meat factories and pubs.
The Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) has recorded 2,736 outbreaks in other settings such as nursing homes, workplaces and private houses. It is also reported 1,500 cases alone were reported from meat factories. Clusters, which involve more than one outbreak case, are commonplace in these more social areas.
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Are bigger muscles worth the life-threatening effects?
By Andrea Byrne
The last decade has seen a complete transformation of the fitness industry in Ireland. Our country is now filled with commercial gyms, boxing clubs, training academies and smaller, private gyms. However, with this surge in health and training, there is now more pressure for men and women to feel like they must look a certain way, causing them to consider using steroids.
In Ireland, the sale of anabolic steroids is governed under the the Misuse of Drugs Acts 1977-2018. It is illegal for them to be sold in gyms, online or anywhere outside of a pharmacy. According to http://www.health.gov.ie, article 12 of the principal regulations deals with the documentation which must be received by persons supplying controlled drugs e.g. pharmacists, pharmaceutical wholesalers etc.
A public information campaign to raise awareness of the potentially serious side effects and health risks of using unprescribed anabolic steroids has been put in place by the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA). The campaign ‘Zero Gains’ was developed in light of growing evidence of an increased use of anabolic steroids for body enhancement as well as new research showing a significant lack of awareness of the serious health complications posed by these products.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority ‘Zero Gains’ campaign
Photo Credit – HPRA.ieDr Lorraine Nolan, Chief Executive of the HPRA, said that anabolic steroids can result in a range of serious health side effects, many of which can be life-threatening with long-term use.
“The HPRA believes that the usage of anabolic steroids has been increasing in Ireland in recent years as the volume of illegal anabolic steroids detained by authorities increased ten-fold between 2015 and 2017,” said Dr Nolan.
“Growing evidence ranging from the increasing levels of illegal products detained by the HPRA each year, as well as needle exchange figures and a number of tragic deaths highlighted in the media in recent times, point to a growth in non-medical use in Ireland.”
“The HPRA…detained 449,411 dosage units of illegal anabolic steroids”
Dr Lorraine Nolan Chief Executive of the HPRADr Nolan continued, “The HPRA states that, in 2017, working in conjunction with An Garda Síochána and Revenue’s Customs Service, it detained 449,411 dosage units of illegal anabolic steroids, compared to 109,006 units in 2016 and 38,049 in 2015.”
Dr. Nolan added: “Our research highlights the social pressure on young people to look a certain way. Young men are seeking to gain muscle and bulk up, and whilst use of illegal steroids was previously associated with competitive bodybuilding and enhanced sport performance, nowadays usage appears dominated by the desire to have the perceived perfect body image.
“The research outlined in the launch of Zero Gains showed that 3 in 4 adults feel social media, TV shows, magazines and websites are pressurising young adults to look a certain way.”
Anabolic androgenic steroids have two main modes of action in the body, one being androgenic effects, which are generally considered to be similar to testosterone (masculinisation) and anabolic effects, which are associated with protein building in skeletal muscle and bone. Men and women may appear healthy on the outside using anabolic steroids but according to Dr. Nolan, this isn’t always the case.
“The real story is that non-medical use of anabolic steroids can have devastating, long term and life threatening side effects”
Dr. Lorraine Nolan Chief Executive of the HPRA“We believe there are no gains from using substances that have been shown to cause a range of physical, psychological and emotional damage when misused,” said Dr Nolan. “The real story is that non-medical use of anabolic steroids can have devastating, long term and life threatening side effects.”
In discussion with Psychologist Susan Eustace about the effects social media may have when taking anabolic steroids, she said: “We know social media plays a significant role in triggering and maintaining many forms of self-harm and damaging behaviour including steroid use.
“Platforms and sites using images appear to be particularly influential as they act as potent triggers for steroid users, for those not currently engaging in the behaviour, and for those who are attempting to give up or stay away from steroids. Social media also amplifies the influence of unhealthy gym culture which can be a major promoter of steroid use.”
“We know social media plays a significant role in triggering and maintaining many forms of self-harm and damaging behaviour including steroid use”
Psychologist Susan EustaceSpeaking to Kyle Mullen, an Irish influencer with over 27 thousand followers, he discussed his experience in the fitness industry and whether he has ever felt pressured to use anabolic steroids.
“No, I personally have not felt pressured, however, I’ve thought of using them, every single male gym goer does. I would say that some do feel pressured by some influencers as often times the lads with the best physiques get the followings and the fame so I’m sure lots feel that they need to use them if that’s their goal. For myself, however, I don’t feel those same pressures as I know of the negatives drugs can bring.”
Photo Credit: Kyle Mullen Youtube Even though Mullen doesn’t take steroids himself he knows many others who have.
“Yes I know a lot of people all using to gain for different reasons,” said Mullen. “Whether it’s keeping up appearances for social media, for competitive reason or only for personal goals in fitness … it’s easily noticeable in physical changes, the mental/ emotional changes vary from minor to dramatic depending on the person and the amount they are taking but yes some are noticeable.
“From my understanding it’s very very easy to get your hands on them. However, as it is illegal and unregulated a lot of the time you don’t know what you are getting.
“A lot of people get sold essentially nothing, they think they are on steroids but have been sold water or whatever the concoction may be. But yes, they are very easy to get, no harder than booking a hotel or flight online.”
“They are very easy to get, no harder than booking a hotel or flight online”
Fitness influencer Kyle MullenA recent RTÉ Investigates series found steroids being sold for as little as €40 for a six-week course which could produce dramatic physical and psychological results. During the course of their investigation they found these products being supplied and sold in car parks, on Irish classified websites and outside gyms.
“The HPRA’s Zero Gains campaign aims to inform and discourage people from using anabolic steroids,” said Dr Nolan. “And from buying these products online or from other illegal suppliers, where it is believed many of these products are sourced.”
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Grappling with the Irish Muay Thai scene
In a country gripped by medals success in Olympic boxing and the UFC’s pay-per-view extravaganza, it is perhaps difficult to uncover the strong Muay Thai presence in Ireland.
Muay Thai, occasionally known as Thaiboxing, is a combat sport that utilises all parts of the body for striking, kicking and clinching. A match consists of five three minute rounds with scores being kept by judges.
There are approximately 30 Muay Thai gyms in Ireland where potential champion fighters learn and study the art. In recent years, the Irish Muay Thai scene has been boosted by the talented Dubliner Jono Bracken and the booking of a fight featuring the legendary Saenchai which was held in Cork earlier this year.
Wishing to learn about the sport, The City spoke to Daniel O’Reilly, a Muay Thai student and fighter from Dublin. He has been balancing his passion with work commitments since 2009.
“I had always been fascinated with the sport due to the film Kickboxer, which was my favourite film throughout my childhood,” he said.
Daniel has experienced several venue changes during his time with the Warriors Thai Boxing Dublin Gym, but has stayed true to the art. “They were first located in Loughlinstown Leisure Centre but then moved to Bray, where I started my training under Mike Dockery,” he explained.
“Then in late 2009 the club moved to a permanent specialised location in Monkstown. Also now there is a head trainer, Cian Cowley. He is also a multiple title holder in Muay Thai and also K-1.”
Photo credit: MartialArtsNomad.com on Flickr Daniel also described the similarities between Muay Thai and the likes of MMA and boxing, both in advertising and style. “Yes [Muay Thai and MMA share techniques in common], although most MMA fighters have a hybrid style of stand up fighting. It wouldn’t be possible to fight with a true Thai stance due to takedowns so the techniques are slightly altered,” he said.
He continued, “there are many shows, promoted just like MMA and boxing cards. Fighters are flown in from all over Europe and some even from Thailand. Just last month, Siam Warriors gym in Cork held a super show with two elite Thai fighters, Pornsae and Rungravee.”
Luckily for Daniel’s Warriors gym, they have an event of their own to look forward to this month.
It is relatively inexpensive to buy the necessary gear for Muay Thai, according to Daniel. Items used by Thaiboxing fighters include gloves, shin pads, shorts, a protective cup and gumguard and wrist wraps. Gyms provide certain pieces of equipment until a student wishes to commit to training.
Muay Thai is primarily taught to adolescents and adult students, but younger students can be catered for. “In Thailand they start from a very young age. Over here it’s limited due to the intensity of the sport. Junior classes are held but they’d be heavily padded and only really learn the techniques of the style,” he said.
Featured image by Mario_Arias on Flickr.
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