Physical complaints and their relationships to esports activities among Japanese esports players: A cross-sectional study

Monma, Takafumi; Matsui, Takashi; Koyama, Shoya; Ueno, Hiromasa; Kagesawa, Junichi; Oba, Chisato; Nakamura, Kentaro; Takagi, Hideki; Takeda, Fumi

doi:10.1101/2023.11.14.23298495

Cited by 3 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 26 publications

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“…Other studies indicate that elite and professional esports athletes may train in gaming between 4.8 and 13.4 hours per day, year-round 21,22 . The physical and mental health implications of prolonged esports play, which involves extended seated screen time, include eye strain, back pain, headache, and insomnia 23,24 . Additionally, a single bout of play can bring cognitive benefits for an hour, but playing for 2 or more hours can lead to cognitive fatigue 25,26 .…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postural Influence on Cognitive Dynamics during Esports Play: A Randomized Crossover Study (Preprint)

Matsui,

Mine,

Takahashi

et al. 2024

Preprint

Self Cite

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BACKGROUND Humans have evolved to sit in a squatting position, whereas in the digitally integrated era epitomized by esports, prolonged sitting on a chair, namely seated position, is a widespread habit linked to body and mind issues. Although standing position promotes health and cognitive performance, the postural influence on cognitive benefits and risks during esports play remains unknown. OBJECTIVE We aimed to test the hypothesis that a standing position enhances esports performance over short periods compared to a seated position, while prolonged standing can lead to cognitive fatigue. Furthermore, we examined whether the forward leaning seated position promotes cognitive dynamics as a possible alternative to the standing position during esports play. METHODS We recruited 25 collegiate casual esports players. They first performed a crossover session of virtual football gaming for a maximum of 3 hours while standing or seated positions (Experiment 1). During the playing, we measured their subjective sensations, mood, virtual football performance, executive function, heart rate, pupil diameter, and salivary cortisol and testosterone levels. Next, we tested the effect of leaning forward in a seated position during the same virtual football gaming condition through a crossover session with a backward seated position (Experiment 2). RESULTS In Experiment 1, standing increased vitality and pleasure, executive function assessed by Flanker interference, and shot performance during the initial 30 minutes. Heart rate, pupil size, and salivary cortisol and testosterone were higher in the standing condition. Beyond 60 minutes, standing slowed interference with increased conceded goals, and 50% of the participants retired during play. In Experiment 2, seated in a leaning forward position enhanced vitality and pleasure, interference, and shot and pass performance than seated in a reclining position during the initial 60 minutes, but led to lower interference and cognitive accuracy after 120 minutes. Reclining seated position slowed interference from the early phase, but accuracy remained unchanged throughout playing. CONCLUSIONS Our findings provide evidence that standing position for moderate durations (≤60 minutes) improves mood, executive function, and esports performance, but standing for prolonged durations (>60 minutes) causes cognitive fatigue, leading to lowered cognitive performances. Furthermore, leaning forward seated position serves as an alternative active sitting mirroring the cognitive dynamics of standing esports play. Reclining seated position supports cognitive endurance with higher accuracy. Ultimately, adopting postures to match cognitive demands could encourage active and healthy lifestyles in today’s co-evolving computer-human society.

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Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Postural Influence on Cognitive Dynamics during Esports Play: A Randomized Crossover Study (Preprint)

Matsui,

Mine,

Takahashi

et al. 2024

Preprint

Self Cite

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Other studies indicate that elite and professional esports athletes may train in gaming between 4.8 and 13.4 hours per day, yearround (21,22). The physical and mental health implications of prolonged esports play, which involves extended seated screen time, include eye strain, back pain, headache, and insomnia (23,24). Additionally, a single bout of play can bring cognitive benefits for an hour, but playing for two or more hours can lead to cognitive fatigue (25,26).…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Standing Enhances Esports Performance and Executive Function for Short Durations, but Not for Long: Implications for Positive Sitting

Matsui,

Mine,

Takahashi

et al. 2024

Preprint

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Humans evolved to sit in a squatting, whereas industrialization/digitization promoted sitting on a chair for prolonged digital cognitive activities, as represented by esports, contributing to unhealthy lifestyles. Although moderate standing, a countermeasure against prolonged sitting, promotes not only health but also cognitive performance, postural influence on esports play remains unknown. Here, we show that moderate standing (≤60 minutes) improves mood and executive/esports performances, but prolonged standing (>60 minutes) causes cognitive fatigue, leading to lowered performances. We first conducted a crossover session of virtual football gaming for a maximum of three hours while standing or sitting in collegiate casual players. In the initial 30 minutes, standing increased vitality and pleasure, executive function assessed by Flanker interference, and shot performance. Heart rate, pupil size, and salivary cortisol and testosterone were higher in the standing condition. Beyond 60 minutes, standing slowed interference with increased conceded goals, and 50% of the participants retired during play. We next tested the effect of leaning forward in a seated position. Leaning forward enhanced vitality and pleasure, interference, and shot and pass performance than reclining during the initial 60 minutes, but led to lower interference and cognitive accuracy after 120 minutes. Reclining slowed interference from the early phase, but accuracy remained unchanged throughout playing. Our findings provide evidence for leaning forward seating as an alternative active sitting mirroring the cognitive dynamics of standing esports play. Reclining supports cognitive endurance with higher accuracy. Modifying posture to match cognitive demands could encourage active and healthy lifestyles in the digital age.

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Prevalence and Associated Factors of Physical Complaints Among Japanese Esports Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

Monma,

Matsui,

Koyama

et al. 2024

Cureus

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Background In the evolving landscape of electronic sports (esports), where economic and social expectations are soaring, a critical concern has emerged in physical complaints among esports players. However, empirical insights into these complaints’ prevalence and influencing factors are scarce. This study aimed to determine the prevalence of physical complaints and their association with esports activities among Japanese esports players. Methodology A web-based, cross-sectional survey encompassing 175 esports players from both professional and amateur teams in Japan was conducted. The analysis focused on 79 male participants (average age: 21.6 ± 5.6 years) with complete responses. The survey items included the esports factors about the esports title mainly play (device, career duration, playing time per day on weekdays and holidays, and the distance between the screen and the face) and physical complaints (headache, neck pain, stiff or sore shoulders, wrist pain, finger pain, lower back pain, and eye fatigue). Results A total of 49.4% reported stiff or sore shoulders, 48.1% faced eye fatigue, and 30.4% had headaches. Professionals exhibited a significantly higher likelihood of neck, wrist, and lower back pain and eye fatigue than amateurs. Age-adjusted univariate logistic regression analysis uncovered that using mainly mobile devices and being closer to the screen and face were significantly associated with neck pain, stiff or sore shoulders, lower back pain, and eye fatigue. Conclusions These results suggest that poor posture caused by using mobile devices and being closer to the screen was related to various physical complaints.

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Physical complaints and their relationships to esports activities among Japanese esports players: A cross-sectional study

Cited by 3 publications

References 26 publications

Postural Influence on Cognitive Dynamics during Esports Play: A Randomized Crossover Study (Preprint)

Postural Influence on Cognitive Dynamics during Esports Play: A Randomized Crossover Study (Preprint)

Standing Enhances Esports Performance and Executive Function for Short Durations, but Not for Long: Implications for Positive Sitting

Prevalence and Associated Factors of Physical Complaints Among Japanese Esports Players: A Cross-Sectional Study

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