Esports
"Esports require manual dexterity and quick reaction times to achieve victory. Athletes at a professional level can perform up to 500 action moves per minute (APM) compared with 10 APM for a novice. Practice for collegiate esports can be 3 to 5 hours of gameplay per day, and many athletes continue to play at home. Esports athletes are seated throughout gameplay; therefore, the injury profiles and health concerns are more likely to resemble a desk worker than a soccer player." (Zwibel et al., 2019).
Common Complaints from Gamers
Wrist Pain
20%
Reported pain in
their arms and wrist from gaming*
Headaches
76.6%
Experience headaches before, during, or
after gaming*
Back Pain
33%
Experience pain in their neck and back while gaming*
*Ritual Motion- 2022Win Well Health Survey Report
This includes repetitive stress injuries such as:
-
Carpal tunnel, and postural pain of fingers, wrists, forearms and elbows
-
Neck, shoulder and upper back pain related to posture
-
Tendinopathy
-
Carpal tunnel or other nerve-related symptoms
-
Low back and hip pain related to prolonged sitting
Many of these conditions can be addressed
with the help of a physical therapist.
Adjust the ergonomic setup
to make it more comfortable to play
Provide tools and suggestions to help prevent future injury
Perform manual therapy to help decrease the stress on your muscles
and tendons
This can help extend your endurance so you can play for longer, with the goal of helping to keep you healthy and fit throughout your career.
Sources:
Zwibel, H., DiFrancisco-Donoghue, J., DeFeo, A. & Yao, S. (2019). An Osteopathic Physician's Approach to the Esports Athlete. Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, 119(11), 756-762. https://doi.org/10.7556/jaoa.2019.125