Musculoskeletal disorders in eSports athletes: A systematic review

Area of Science:

• Sports Medicine
• Occupational Health
• eSports Medicine

Background:

• eSports is growing professionally, raising concerns about player physical health.
• Prolonged sitting and repetitive movements in eSports may impact the musculoskeletal system.
• Research on eSports player musculoskeletal disorders and prevention is limited.

Purpose of the Study:

• To review scientific evidence on musculoskeletal disorder prevalence in professional eSports players.
• To identify potential preventative measures for eSports-related musculoskeletal issues.

Main Methods:

• Systematic literature search following PRISMA guidelines.
• Included studies published from 2005 onwards on professional e-athletes.
• Assessed study quality using adapted Newcastle-Ottawa Scale.

Main Results:

• Ten studies (789 e-athletes) found high musculoskeletal disorder prevalence (26.8%-86.2%).
• Commonly affected areas: lower back, shoulders, neck, wrists; eye fatigue also reported.
• Longer training and poor ergonomics correlated with symptoms; few sought medical help.

Conclusions:

• Musculoskeletal disorders significantly impact eSports performance.
• Preventive strategies include ergonomic stations, physical training, and regular check-ups.
• High-quality prospective studies are needed to establish causality.