The two are distinctly connected. More importantly, they are of equal value in the weight room. Abacus Sports Installations is a sports flooring company, so this article will focus mainly on flooring and how it interacts with equipment and athletes.

#1: Fitness Flooring’s Role in Performance

The main goal of strength training and conditioning is to improve performance. Training improves both athletes’ bodies and minds. An optimal weight room floor layout gives strength coaches a solid foundation for preparing athletes for games.

Fitness flooring design is vital for coaches who want their athletes to reach maximum potential. The strategic placement of rubber flooring with exercise equipment, training turf, and inlaid crash platforms for intense lifting matters. A versatile weight room includes multiple types of flooring, and each type’s role in performance is as follows:

• Recycled Rubber Flooring – Rubber is the ultimate fitness surface due to its natural cushion and durability. It isn’t easily damaged by exercise equipment, and it provides a strong surface for the equipment to sit on. Recycled rubber also gives enhanced traction and shock absorption, which helps athletes in both lifting and sprinting exercises.
• Vulcanized Rubber Flooring – Vulcanized rubber has a hard surface, which gives it more resistance against pivot points. Its hard surface also resists equipment like ice skates, which makes it a valuable fitness tool for winter sports like hockey and figure skating.
• Athletic Training Turf – Indoor training turf simulates the conditions of a field athletes will be playing on. Turf can be installed directly next to rubber for quick transitions between workouts. Overall, turf increases the number of workouts you can complete in one space and creates a more versatile, functional weight room.
• Inlaid Platforms – While some crash platforms are raised out of the floor, inlaid platforms sit level with the rest of the rubber weight room floor. These platforms are made of thicker material and protect the floor below them, which allows athletes to perform heavier lifts.

When you combine these three flooring materials together, you can create a strength & conditioning space that will maximize your athletes’ potential performance and give you a winning edge.

#2: Safety is a Priority with Fitness Flooring

All the training in the world will not matter if athletes are prone to injuries while training. Your players’ safety and health should be one of your highest priorities: not just for them to be able to see the field and compete, but to help them avoid nagging pain in their lives after sports.

The right fitness floor will minimize injury risk wherever possible. This is where the options we talked about above shine as well. Rubber’s natural cushion protects athletes from injuring themselves in a fall. Its anti-slip properties prevent falls from occurring in the first place.

Inlaid platforms laying level with the rest of the floor eliminates tripping hazards as well as the possibility of large weights rolling off a platform.

Appropriate fitness flooring will also use its shock absorption to prevent stress on muscles and joints. This promotes longer, more efficient workouts and helps prevent injuries further by keeping athletes from getting worn down.

#3: Easy Maintenance, Cleaning, and Disinfecting

Sanitation is a huge topic right now in the world of sports. COVID-19 has almost certainly changed how we view proper cleaning and disinfecting techniques.

Rubber workout flooring has an advantage: it was already easy to clean before coronavirus came along. Recycled rubber floors are bacteria and mold resistant. Vacuuming, sweeping, and damp-mopping are all viable ways to clean rubber floors.

Vulcanized rubber is easy to clean because of its non-porous surface. The hard upper layer of vulcanized rubber floors makes it impossible for dust and debris to get down into the floor, which makes the floor more naturally sanitary.

Inlaid platforms also do not create crevices next to the floor where dust and debris can collect, while raised platforms do. This means that you can sweep and mop right over your platform without running into frustrating corners and areas where debris collects.

Choosing turf without rubber infill will eliminate the need to clean up rubber pellets after workouts. Turf can easily be vacuumed regularly to remain clean. You may also wash and spray turf frequently with the correct cleaning agent recommended by the turf manufacturer for a deeper clean.

Everything is Connected

We know how important success is to you. Next time you need to revamp your weight room, remember to consider the importance of the fitness flooring materials you choose. They’re just as important as your equipment. In the weight room, everything matters.