Where Muscle Matters: How Regional Differences, Pain, and Gender Define Gamer Health

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Ergonomics
• Exercise Physiology

Background:

• Competitive gaming involves prolonged static postures and repetitive motions, leading to musculoskeletal concerns.
• Understanding gender-specific physiological differences is crucial for addressing health issues in esports athletes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate gender-specific regional lean body mass (LBM) variations in competitive gamers.
• To examine the association between LBM, handgrip strength, and musculoskeletal discomfort in gamers.

Main Methods:

• Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) scans for LBM assessment.
• Handgrip strength tests and self-reported musculoskeletal pain surveys.
• Comparison between 30 competitive gamers and 30 matched non-gamer controls.

Main Results:

• Male gamers had significantly lower forearm and upper body LBM and reduced grip strength versus controls.
• Female gamers showed lower upper body LBM but no significant differences in forearm LBM or grip strength.
• Forearm LBM negatively correlated with lower back pain in male gamers; longer gaming duration correlated with increased pain in both sexes.

Conclusions:

• Esports athletes, particularly males, exhibit distinct LBM and strength profiles potentially increasing injury risk.
• Targeted interventions focusing on ergonomic adjustments and physical conditioning are recommended for esports athletes.
• Further longitudinal and interventional studies are needed to optimize musculoskeletal health and performance in gamers.