- eSport is a sport in its own right
- It therefore has both positive and negative physical consequences.
- There are fairly simple ways to prevent the risks
With millions of practitioners, professionalization, and an upcoming (symbolic) participation in the Paris Olympics, eSport is undeniably a sporting discipline in its own right. It requires optimal physical preparation, and the practice of electronic sports can also create certain physical problems.
In a fascinating article published on the site The Conversationresearchers Daniel Sanjuán Sánchez and José Manuel Burgos Bragado from San Jorge University in Zaragoza have just returned to the dangers of electronic sports.
The authors cite in particular muscle and joint pain that can occur if the player is not seated correctly and spends too much time in the same position. In the long term, the elbows, wrists and hands can suffer damage caused by repetitive movements. This is particularly the case of contractures or carpal tunnel syndrome which is a recurring disorder among the pros.
Scientists also point to eye problems due to excessive exposure to screens: dry eyes, headaches and blurred vision which can in some cases cause extreme fatigue. These worries can degenerate and affect the mental health of gamers with anxiety, an increased risk of depression, and even addiction to video games.
3 tips to counter the risks
Faced with these very concrete threats, researchers are precisely proposing solutions that we believe should be relayed because they are aimed at high-level players as well as gamers who play less often.
The first advice is pure common sense: you should take regular breaks, and spending more than 3 hours in a row playing has negative consequences. So you have to take your eyes off the screen for ten minutes, get up, walk.
For athletes, a joint warm-up may be necessary with muscle strengthening and mobility exercises to prepare the body for these intensive sessions. Pros or anyone who spends a lot of time playing should also favor ergonomic equipment to hold their hands and be better seated in front of their games.
If you are interested in electronic sports, you can always read our article which looks back on the games selected for the next Olympics with some disappointments.
