444 EP051 – Beyond the screen: do esports players really have more musculoskeletal problems?

Background Esports has shown increasing potential as a formal sport, but the debate on its association with physical injuries persists, and previous studies have had limited scope. Objective This study aimed to explore the relationship between esports participation, physical injuries, and contributing factors related to gaming habits. Design A cross-sectional study design was used. Setting The study focused on multi-level college esports players. Participants 1549 esports players participated through an online questionnaire survey. Careful categorization of game genres ensured the exclusion of general video game players. Interventions (or Assessment of Risk Factors) The study assessed physical health problems (visual impairment, myopia, dry eye, hearing impairment, hearing loss, hand or finger pain/strain, wrist pain/strain, neck pain/strain, upper back pain/strain, lower back pain/strain, malnutrition, sleep duration), gaming habits (duration, frequency, game genres, intermittent breaks, posture) and physical exercise participation. Main Outcome Measurements Data were collected through an online questionnaire. Results No significant differences in selected physical health problems were found between esports participants and non-esports participants. Surprisingly, esports participants had significantly higher participation in traditional sports compared to non-esports participants. No statistically significant differences in physical health issues were observed among different types of esports players. However, notable disparities were found in wrist, back, and neck pain/strain. Players not adhering to a standardized sitting position reported higher proportions of upper and lower back pain/strain. Similarly, players not taking intermittent breaks had a higher proportion of neck pain/strain compared to those who did. Conclusions This study found no association between esports participation and negative physical health outcomes. In fact, esports players demonstrated higher participation in traditional sports compared. This study also emphasized the importance of exploring healthier and scientifically grounded approaches to esports practice. Developing esports practices considering factors such as game duration, posture, and devices could promote well-being among esports players.