Competing in e-sports, also known as electronic sports, can mean training for several hours a day in front of a screen.
Whether people participate in video game competitions at the professional or amateur level, they face physical and cognitive demands.
Mayo Clinic Gaming and Esports Medicine director Dr Jane Konidis shares tips to protect your health, whether you’re using a video game console, computer or smartphone for e-sports activities.
“E-sports are extremely demanding,” says the physiatrist (also known as a physical medicine and rehabilitation physician).
“They require sustained fine motor movement, upper extremity speed, hand-eye coordination and keen cognitive function, as some games are all strategy.
“As society moves to more digital platforms, these conditions will become more prevalent, not just in e-sports players, but also in people who are on the computer often and for long periods of time.”
Frequent problems
E-sports athletes range from amateur players to professionals.
Dr Konidis and her team, based in Rochester, Minnesota, United States, treat competitors across all age groups, although most are adults in their 20s to 40s.
Interestingly, novice players average 50 action moves a minute, while advanced players can make up to 500 to 600.
Here are common e-sports injuries:
Eyestrain is the most frequently reported condition among e-sports players, with research in the journal BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine indicating that it affects up to 56% of competitive gamers.
Extended screen exposure without adequate breaks is the primary risk factor for symptoms, including eye fatigue and irritation, blurred vision, headache, and eye pain.
This condition is also known as dead butt syndrome.
Long hours of sitting can cause the glutes to become weak and underactive over time, Dr Konidis says.
Since the gluteus maximus is one of the body’s strongest muscles, poor glute function can contribute to a host of other issues, such as low back and knee pain.
Exercises such as squats, glute bridges and clamshells can help keep the glutes strong and working properly.
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Many e-sports players experience upper extremity pain resulting from repetitive fine motor movements, such as typing, clicking a mouse and manipulating a controller.
Over time, the pain can progress to an overuse injury, such as carpal tunnel syndrome or common extensor tendinopathy, also known as gamer’s elbow or tennis elbow.
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Neck and back pain also are prevalent due to prolonged static postures.
Comparative data on whether e-sports athletes experience higher rates than those of other sedentary populations does exist, but it’s unclear whether it is higher than that of the general population.
E-sports athletes face metabolic and cardiovascular risks from prolonged sitting, including potential impacts on heart health and body weight.
The term “gamer’s thrombosis” has emerged to describe documented cases of venous thromboembolism (VTE) in gamers, which is exceedingly rare, according to research reviewed in the medical-focused Ochsner Journal.
“The cases reported are usually people with video game addictions who were sitting in front of a computer for four or five days in a row, or with a pre-existing medical condition putting them at high risk for VTE,” Dr Konidis says.
Chronic exposure to blue light from electronic devices disrupts circadian rhythms, affecting sleep quality.
The impact is often greater in e-sports athletes who may participate in international events across time zones.
Some players also report depression and anxiety symptoms, though not necessarily at rates higher than those of the general population.
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Prevention tactics
Gamers should receive the same comprehensive health screening that traditional athletes do, Dr Konidis suggests.
“The basics of what we do for other athletes should be applied to e-sports athletes, but with a tailored exam that’s more focused on their needs for eye, upper extremity and fine motor movements,” she adds.
Here are strategies to help prevent e-sports injuries:
- Engage in pre-gaming warm-ups
These should target the upper extremities to reduce hand and wrist pain.
Take regular movement breaks during play to prevent neck and back discomfort.
- Follow the 20-20-20 rule
In order to reduce eye strain, look 20 feet (6m) away for 20 seconds once every 20 minutes.
- Be physically active
- Follow good sleep habits
Proper sleep is also important for mental health, optimal performance and recovery.
Athletes can benefit from a multidisciplinary approach to care.
Aside from physiatrists, healthcare professionals like physical therapists, occupational therapists, hand surgeons, psychologists, nutritionists/dietitians and lifestyle counsellors may be involved in the care of e-sports players.
