As Workouts Get Harder, Gym Floors Need to Get Smarter

In the fitness and wellness space, a lot of attention is paid to equipment – the quality, versatility and durability. But comparatively little focus is given to one of the biggest aspects of any gym or studio: the flooring. This despite the vital role it plays in design, aesthetics and safety — and the major investment it represents.

In this fireside chat, Athletech News founder Edward Hertzman sits down with Bo Barber, chief growth officer for Ecore International, parent company of the Ecore Athletic sports flooring brand, to discuss why gym owners and operators may be discounting the role their flooring plays in everything from injury prevention to safety.

“We might argue that the most important surface in your facility is the floor, because that is probably what is taking the most impacts,” Barber said. “People are doing more aggressive, functional movements now. Thinking seriously about the flooring we have in those spaces is a really serious concern.”

Flooring and safety concerns

While the equipment in the gym may evolve over the years from aerobics to functional training, too often the flooring hasn’t kept up with those movements. When the flooring doesn’t match the modality, gyms open themselves up to increased fatigue and impact related injuries, which ultimately lead to lost revenue when consumers must skip a workout to recover, or worse, cancel their memberships altogether out of fear of further injury.

The safety concern increases in spaces that include recovery and wellness features, particularly those that incorporate water in some way. “Recovery and wellness facilities are exploding, and flooring has to evolve to make those zones safe,” Barber stated. “Once you introduce water, the opportunity for slips and falls becomes significant.”

Design and community impact

Beyond safety, Barber said flooring is playing an increasingly important role as gyms rethink design. To foster community and engagement, more and more owners are opting for open concepts with fewer walls. In these cases, the floors act as wayfinders, delineating zones and directing flow. “People want to see what everyone else is doing — it increases engagement and enthusiasm,” Barber said. “Flooring is becoming a design tool, not just a performance surface.”