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Effect of Physical Exercise on Esports Performance in First-Person Shooter Gamers: A Six-Week Randomized Controlled
Di Tang1,2, Xin Zhang3, Ray Wai-Keung Ho1
1Department of Sports Science and Physical Education, Faculty of Education, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China.
Sports Medicine - Open
|December 24, 2025
Summary
High-intensity interval training (HIIT) significantly boosts esports performance in gamers, enhancing skills like reaction time and accuracy. This six-week program also improved VO2max and sleep quality, supporting overall player well-being.
Area of Science:
- Sports Science
- Exercise Physiology
- Human Performance
Background:
- Esports is increasingly recognized as a competitive sport globally.
- Limited research exists on optimizing esports performance through physical training.
- Previous studies suggest exercise, including HIIT, may benefit cognitive and gaming skills, but long-term effects are unclear.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the long-term effects of a six-week high-intensity interval training (HIIT) program on esports performance.
- To assess improvements in specific gaming skills and physiological markers in first-person shooter (FPS) gamers.
- To explore the impact of HIIT on cognitive functions, sleep quality, and psychological factors relevant to esports.
Main Methods:
- Recruited 83 healthy adult FPS gamers (aged 18-29) for a six-week study.
- Randomly assigned participants to either a HIIT intervention group or a control group.
- Assessed key FPS skills, VO2max, sleep quality, mental toughness, and self-regulation before and after the intervention.
Main Results:
- The HIIT group showed significant improvements in flicking, tracking, decision-making, reaction time, and shooting accuracy.
- VO2max and sleep quality were enhanced in the HIIT group.
- No significant changes were observed in mental toughness or self-regulation; a moderate correlation between VO2max and reaction time was noted.
Conclusions:
- A six-week HIIT program effectively enhances esports gaming performance and improves player well-being.
- HIIT positively impacts physiological markers like VO2max and sleep quality in gamers.
- Further research is recommended to explore neurophysiological mechanisms and other training modalities for esports optimization.
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