Some serve one group of muscles while others are a multi-purpose device for the whole body. Some gyms are run by former athletes who offer advice on exercise and nutrition. Some serve as training grounds for professional athletes and national team members on specified days of the week. These gyms charge about LE50 a month for regular customers and around LE70 a month for newcomers. Those who train only sporadically pay LE5 a visit.
Trainers usually work three times a week.
Part-timers put in one or two sessions a week and many have quit after just one month on the job. With sauna, massage crews, aroma therapy, pedicure and manicure, these gyms are more than just muscle builders. Almost without exception, the gyms lack a qualified sports therapist in case of injuries likely to happen especially when working with the muscles of the back. Some gyms have physicians, but doctors cannot advise what to do in training. So while more and more gyms sprout up in Cairo, and the number of strength training and body-building athletes keeps growing, the risk of injury increases as well unless qualified therapists are available.