Health problems that professional gamers can face

What are the health problems of professional gamers? How can they be prevented?

Let’s find out together with a doctor, the head of a cybersports organization and the director of educational program development at the Faculty of Game Industry and Cybersports.

It would seem that how many times mom said: “Don’t sit at the computer for too long, you’ll ruin your eyes.” But what if gaming is not just a hobby and you need to spend a lot of time at the monitor? The dynamically developing world of cybersports is now attracting the attention of many. The professional community continues to emerge, and the health of the players comes first.

Head of Cyber Legacy cybersports organization (Freedom International Group)

The use of gadgets in everyday life has become as commonplace as working with paper books and documents once was. The use of modern technology in everyday life has become our usual routine: from studying/working to relaxing. Therefore, I believe that it is impossible to state unequivocally about the negative impact of technology on our health. This requires more than one more scientific study.

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Prepínač

Not just “toys”

So-called eSports is a huge industry, which cannot be taken lightly anymore. In 2008, the International Cybersport Federation was formed, which now includes 107 national federations on five continents. Since 2016, cybersport has been officially included in the All-Russian register of sports, for the mass development of which the Computer Sports Federation is responsible.

Director of Educational Program Development at Synergy’s Game Industry and Cybersport Faculty

Cybersport has long been a job like many others, where health insurance is paid for. In the case of competitions, there are also regular medical exams. When competitions were held at the amateur level, this was out of the question. The professional scene has brought cybersport to a completely different level. This includes the attitude towards teams on the part of sponsors, organizers and employers.

The volume of viewership is staggering: in the same year 2016, the total audience of the Olympic Games was one and a half times as large as the audience of the League of Legends World Championship. And the industry’s projected profits could exceed $1 billion in 2021.

However, the debate about the inclusion of cybersports in the Olympic Games program continues. There is no doubt about the competitive nature of computer games, but not about the physical load of players. Not all experts consider it sufficient to put it on a par with sports already included in the competition program.

neurologist

Any, even the coolest gamer’s chair can not compensate for the forward tilt of the body, especially in too enthusiastic players. In the long term, this posture puts strain on the joints of the neck and back. This gradually leads to compression of the intervertebral discs, degenerative changes. As a result, the blood vessels are compressed and the nutrition of the brain is impaired.

Headaches
Occur due to stress, prolonged work at the computer, unventilated rooms, irregular working hours, sleep deprivation.

Computer mouse syndrome (tunnel syndrome)
There is a burning sensation, pain, weakness and swelling of the hand in the lead hand.

Michail: The program of cyber athletes includes physical activities that help prevent such an unpleasant thing as tunnel syndrome. You can get it even outside of cybersports, for example, while working in an office, doing the same monotonous activities almost without breaks. Wrists and hand joints are the most affected. The main thing is not to let your hands get stiff, take breaks and warm up a little if necessary. Otherwise, cyber athletes have the same problems as everyone else.

Cardiovascular diseases
Atherosclerosis, high blood pressure, heart rhythm disorders, etc. The risk of their development is increased by: improper diet, coffee abuse, smoking, low activity, obesity, stress at work, improper daily routine, etc.

Dry Eye Syndrome
It includes such symptoms as redness, eye fatigue, dryness, and a feeling of “sand” in the eyes. It occurs due to prolonged work at the computer, dry air-conditioned air in office buildings, allergens.

Vladislav: You can’t lump ordinary users and professionals into one group.

Average users: many kids start to experience changes in the musculoskeletal system. This is due to the lack of physical activity and a sedentary lifestyle.

Professionals: things are much better here. The overwhelming percentage of athletes understand the importance of a comprehensive approach to their health: they pay attention to nutrition, sleep regimen, sports training. However, in this group it is more often possible to distinguish “depression from computer games”. It is expressed by a longer rehabilitation period than in ordinary users, especially in young athletes.

In general, players experience almost the same feelings from victories and defeats as in traditional sports. There is a lot of research on the impact of computer technology on human consciousness. All of them still do not give a definite answer.

Don’t just “take a break”

Hygiene of work in cybersports is extremely important – it is the main key to keeping athletes healthy.

Vladislav: If a player is a member of a team, it is more likely that a coach or a manager, and sometimes a psychologist and a nutritionist will be watching the discipline and training process. But if a gamer plays for himself or aspires to enter professional sports, I can highlight three recommendations that will help to be in shape every day:

• not to neglect physical training or at least walks (at least 2 km a day);
• adhere to a healthy diet (sufficient, varied, without long breaks between meals);
• establish a sleep schedule (go to bed no later than midnight).