Professional gaming is brutal on the body – inside the growing field of treating esports injuries

Professional gaming is taking a heavy toll on the bodies of many top esports athletes, with chronic injuries causing some to retire far earlier than expected. A prime example is Jian "Uzi" Zi-hao, a top "League of Legends" player who earned over $500,000 in his career but was forced to retire in 2020 due to wrist and arm injuries at just 25 years old.

Esports players face grueling schedules, often practicing, scrimmaging, and competing for hours each day to hone their skills and climb the competitive ladder. This intense regimen can lead to a range of physical and mental health issues. According to a 2021 study, 37% of Portuguese esports players experienced anxiety and depression, while 45% suffered from sleep disturbances.

The most common physical injuries among gamers include eye problems and musculoskeletal issues like carpal tunnel syndrome, tendonitis, and "gamer's thumb." These injuries are often caused by repetitive button-smashing and overuse of tendons around the thumb and wrist.

In addition to hand and wrist problems, players frequently experience back pain due to prolonged sitting without breaks. This sedentary lifestyle can also lead to deep vein thrombosis, a potentially life-threatening blood clot that forms in the legs and can travel to the lungs.

To prevent these injuries, top esports teams now employ physical therapists, performance psychologists, and massage therapists to optimize player performance and recovery. Teams also incorporate group exercise activities and proper spinal and limb positioning during competition to reduce injury risk. While many injury treatment and prevention strategies have been borrowed from traditional sports, researchers suggest that esports athletes may benefit from looking to musicians and dancers as models for injury prevention and performance optimization.