The practice of professional electronic sports has gained importance in recent years.
Who would have thought that one day working with digital games would become a profession? The fact is that not only are they a profession, but the e-sports industry continues to grow, being a source of income and employment for many people, as well as contributing economically to the country. However, even with less physical impact than “traditional” sports, electronic games can leave impacts on the body. Therefore, it is worth knowing what are the best practices to maintain health and avoid injuries. In this article, you will learn more about eSports and how to stay healthy as an athlete. Keep reading!
What are eSports?
Electronic sports or e-sports are virtual gaming competitions played by computer athletes, who are considered professional competitors in sports. Esports disputes take place virtually and can be watched by an audience in person and/or online via streaming platforms. E-sports has grown a lot in recent years, but its emergence is not new. The first electronic competition took place in 1972 at Stanford University in the United States. That year, a group of college students competed in Spacewar matches, in a competition that became known as the “Intergalactic Spacewar Olympics”. Since the 2000s, electronic sports has exploded, following the advancement of the Internet and the popularization of virtual gaming as a sport, which is very lucrative and attracts sponsors from all over the world.
What are the main types of eSports?
Like conventional sports, e-sports have different categories that cyber athletes can indulge in. Being them:
- First Person Shooter (FPS): shooting games played from the player’s point of view. The main ones: Counter Strike: Global Offensive, Overwatch and Rainbow 6;
- Sports in eSports: sports games, such as football, played virtually, following the standards already used by the face-to-face mode. Competitions: FIFA and Pro Evolution Soccer (PES);
- Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA): cthey combine strategy and action, being the main games within the electronic sports modes;
- battle royal: are games where survival is the focus. One of the best known is Free Fire, which can be played on your mobile phone;
- Fighting Games: are games that consist of corporal disputes, such as Super Smash Bros and Dragon Ball.
What are the impacts of having a habit of playing an e-sport?
E-sports end up requiring athletes to spend many hours in front of computers or video games, a practice that requires great attention to avoid the possible impacts of engaging in an e-sport. Among these impacts, we can highlight injuries to the arms, wrists and even the back, as many cyber athletes end up developing a herniated disc and suffer from other pain in the upper limbs due to the position they remain in for long periods. Furthermore, repetitive movements contribute to the emergence of some health problems, such as Repetitive Strain Injury (RSI). In addition to physical problems, the practice of electronic sports can also impact the quality of sleep of athletes, since the excessive use of screens and activations made in the brain to generate concentration during matches contribute to activating the brain and can make activities more difficult sleep routine. Cyberathletes must also prioritize exercising to avoid becoming sedentary when sitting for long periods. Those who are dedicated to electronic games can also find many advantages, such as:
- Improve memory, speed and concentration;
- Develop skills in multiple tasks;
- Learn to work as a team;
- Strengthen trust in other people;
- Develop attention.
Therefore, provided they are practiced correctly, e-sports can be very beneficial for those who practice them.
How to avoid injuries in practice by maintaining a healthy routine?
As mentioned above, it is no surprise that cyber-athletes are faced with injuries that prevent them from continuing to play, since they must be sidelined in order to get the proper treatment. Therefore, the work of the physiotherapist is essential, both to prevent and to take care of the injuries to which athletes are prone, helping in their recovery and also in the prevention of possible other injuries. It is important to underline that many of these injuries occur due to poor posture, generating overload in inappropriate places. For example, when a player has his shoulder too far forward, he puts a load on his shoulders. Thus, there is a greater impact generated on the tendons, which, when inflamed, cause tendonitis. But how to prevent the occurrence of injuries and athletes to maintain a healthy routine? For this, it is important to pay attention to the following recommendations.
stretch
As in conventional sports, stretching is essential to prevent video game athletes from sustaining injuries. With the exercises to lengthen the muscles it is possible to:
- Reduce muscle tension;
- Increase muscle flexibility;
- Activate circulation;
- Relieve pain.
That is, stretching prevents possible damage and is also helpful in dealing with existing pain. In addition, they help improve body movement, which is very important depending on the modality adopted by the cyber athlete.
practice exercise
Many electronic gaming athletes end up facing problems with a sedentary lifestyle, as they spend many hours in front of a computer or video game and don’t bother practicing physical exercises outside of the virtual world. Therefore, in addition to providing a better quality of life in the physical, emotional and mental spheres, physical exercises allow you to strengthen the muscles of the body, also helping to avoid injuries. Therefore, dedicating free time in the day to exercise is also of paramount importance for e-game athletes, helping to improve physical conditioning, posture, sleep quality, etc.
Follow a professional
Follow-up by a physical therapist is important not only to treat existing injuries, but also to prevent problems from arising. With the help of a professional it is possible to obtain a guide to carry out the best activities and the most effective treatments for maintaining the athlete’s health. It is thus possible to carry out targeted activities focused on the individual needs of each athlete, taking into account the reality of him, from the time dedicated to sport to the space in which he usually plays. In this way the practice of electronic sports becomes much safer for practitioners.
How to get around the addiction that this type of games can cause?
Internet Gaming Disorder or gaming disorder is a disease recognized by the World Health Organization (WHO), defined as the difficulty of controlling the consumption of games. However, for those who work with electronic games, having this perception of separating work from addiction is not an easy task. Therefore, the first step in avoiding the addiction that this type of gaming can cause is to recognize the importance of setting limits to the time spent in the profession. As in other fields of activity, professionals should not expose themselves to long hours of work, let alone devote a large part of their time to it. Therefore, it is important to set boundaries and establish a routine of activities that allow for other activities and time for social interactions. It is also important to diversify the sources of leisure so that work and entertainment do not merge, so that the whole person’s life revolves around the virtual world. In cases of situations where there is already a strong addiction to electronic games, it is important to get help from specialized professionals who develop joint strategies with the person to cure the addiction.
Source: Terra
Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.
