Effect of Ergonomic Training and Exercise in Esports Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial

Year 2024, Volume: 7 Issue: 4, 867 - 876, 25.07.2024

Atakan Gürgan , Ömer Şevgin

https://doi.org/10.33438/ijdshs.1481857

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate the effectiveness of exercises given with ergonomics training on sleep, neck, and upper extremity functions in esports players. Fifty professional or amateur esports players were randomly divided into two groups: an exercise group that received exercise and ergonomics training and a control group that received only ergonomics training. The exercise program was applied three days a week for eight weeks. Before and following the study, the participants were evaluated using the Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand Questionnaire (DASH), the Neck Disability Questionnaire (NDI), the Rapid Upper Extremity Assessment (RULA), and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Following the implementation of an intervention, there were notable declines in both the NDI and RULA scores in both groups. Conversely, while a reduction in the DASH and PSQI scores was observed in the exercise group, this was not evident in the control group. The decline in NDI and DASH scores in the exercise group following the intervention period was found to be statistically significant when compared to the control group (p < 0.01). The application of physical exercise improving thoracic and shoulder mobility, nerve stretching, and hand/wrist strength and mobility, along with ergonomics training, has been shown to have a positive impact on the neck, upper extremity functions, and sleep quality of the esports players.

Keywords

Ergonomics, Exercise, Esports, Neck pain, Sleep

Ethical Statement

The approval was taken from the Üsküdar University Non-Interventional Research Ethics Committee (reference number 61351342/September 2023-20).

References

• Ağargün MY, K. H. A. Ö. (1996). The validity and reliability of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. Türk Psikiyatri Dergisi, 7, 107–115.[CrossRef]
• Aslan, E., Karaduman, A., Yakut, Y., Aras, B., Simsek, I. E., & Yaglý, N. (2008). The cultural adaptation, reliability and validity of neck disability index in patients with neck pain: a Turkish version study. Spine, 33(11), E362-5. [CrossRef]
• Babak Vahdatpour, M. B. M. R. T. (2015). Investigating Musculoskeletal Discomforts and Its Relation to Workplace Ergonomic Conditions among Computer Office Workers at Alzahra Hospital, Isfahan, Iran. Journal of Isfahan Medical School , 33(346), 1299–1307. [CrossRef]
• Bányai, F., Griffiths, M. D., Király, O., & Demetrovics, Z. (2019). The Psychology of Esports: A Systematic Literature Review. Journal of Gambling Studies, 35(2), 351–365. [CrossRef]
• Borbély, A. A., & Achermann, P. (1999). Sleep homeostasis and models of sleep regulation. Journal of Biological Rhythms, 14(6), 557–568. [CrossRef]
• Buysse, D. J., Reynolds, C. F., 3rd, Monk, T. H., Berman, S. R., & Kupfer, D. J. (1989). The Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index: a new instrument for psychiatric practice and research. Psychiatry research, 28(2), 193–213. [CrossRef]
• da Costa, B., & Vieira, E. (2008). Stretching to reduce work-related musculoskeletal disorders: A systematic review. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine, 40(5), 321–328. [CrossRef]
• De la Corte-Rodriguez, H., Roman-Belmonte, J. M., Resino-Luis, C., Madrid-Gonzalez, J., & Rodriguez-Merchan, E. C. (2024). The Role of Physical Exercise in Chronic Musculoskeletal Pain: Best Medicine—A Narrative Review. In Healthcare (Switzerland) (Vol. 12, Issue 2). [CrossRef]
• Dockrell, S., Bennett, K., & Culleton-Quinn, E. (2015). Computer use and musculoskeletal symptoms among undergraduate university students. Computers and Education, 85. [CrossRef]
• Dongsheng, Y., Xiaohang, Y., & Daofeng, K. (2011). The Present Situation and Development Trend of E-sports Games in China. 2011 International Conference on Future Computer Science and Education, 384–386. [CrossRef]
• Düger T., Yakut E., Öksüz Ç., Yörükan S., Bilgutay B. S., Ayhan Ç., Leblebicioglu G., Kayıhan H., Kırdı N., Yakut Y., Güler Ç. (2006). Reliability and validity of the Turkish adaptation of Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH) Questionnaire. Physiotherapy Rehabilitation, 17(3), 99–107. [CrossRef] Emara, A. K., Ng, M. K., Cruickshank, J. A., Kampert, M. W., Piuzzi, N. S., Schaffer, J. L., & King, D. (2020). Gamer’s Health Guide: Optimizing Performance, Recognizing Hazards, and Promoting Wellness in Esports. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 19(12). [CrossRef]
• Fullagar, H. H. K., Skorski, S., Duffield, R., Hammes, D., Coutts, A. J., & Meyer, T. (2015). Sleep and Athletic Performance: The Effects of Sleep Loss on Exercise Performance, and Physiological and Cognitive Responses to Exercise. In Sports Medicine (Vol. 45, Issue 2). [CrossRef]
• Giakoni-Ramírez, F., Merellano-Navarro, E., & Duclos-Bastías, D. (2022). Professional Esports Players: Motivation and Physical Activity Levels. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(4). [CrossRef]
• Guillen Pereira, L., Bueno Fernandez, E., Gutierrez Cruz, M., & Guerra Santiesteban, J. R. (2017). Programa de actividad física y su incidencia en la depresión y bienestar subjetivo de adultos mayores (Impact of a physical activity program on older adults’ depression and subjective well-being). Retos, 33. [CrossRef]
• Harbard, E., Allen, N. B., Trinder, J., & Bei, B. (2016). What’s Keeping Teenagers Up? Prebedtime Behaviors and Actigraphy-Assessed Sleep over School and Vacation. Journal of Adolescent Health, 58(4). [CrossRef]
• Hoe, V. C. W., Urquhart, D. M., Kelsall, H. L., Zamri, E. N., & Sim, M. R. (2018). Ergonomic interventions for preventing work-related musculoskeletal disorders of the upper limb and neck among office workers. In Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews (Vol. 2018, Issue 10). [CrossRef]
• Hudak, P. L., Amadio, P. C., & Bombardier, C. (1996). Development of an upper extremity outcome measure: the DASH (disabilities of the arm, shoulder and hand) [corrected]. The Upper Extremity Collaborative Group (UECG). American journal of industrial medicine, 29(6), 602–608. [CrossRef]
• Kaliniene, G., Ustinaviciene, R., Skemiene, L., & Januskevicius, V. (2013). Associations between neck musculoskeletal complaints and work related factors among public service computer workers in Kaunas. International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 26(5). [CrossRef]
• Kari, T., & Karhulahti, V. M. (2016). Do e-athletes move? A study on training and physical exercise in elite e-sports. International Journal of Gaming and Computer-Mediated Simulations, 8(4). [CrossRef]
• Lowe, C. J., Safati, A., & Hall, P. A. (2017). The neurocognitive consequences of sleep restriction: A meta-analytic review. In Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews (Vol. 80). [CrossRef]
• Macey, J., & Hamari, J. (2018). Investigating relationships between video gaming, spectating esports, and gambling. Computers in Human Behavior, 80, 344–353. [CrossRef]
• Mahmud, N., Kenny, D. T., Zein, R. M., & Hassan, S. N. (2011). Ergonomic training reduces musculoskeletal disorders among office workers: results from the 6-month follow-up. Malaysian Journal of Medical Sciences, 18(2). [CrossRef]
• McAtamney, L., & Nigel Corlett, E. (1993). RULA: a survey method for the investigation of work-related upper limb disorders. Applied Ergonomics, 24(2), 91–99. [CrossRef]
• Murat Dalkılınç. (2011). The effect of ergonomics training provided by e-learning and interactive methods on the risk factors associated with musculoskeletal injuries in office workers [Doctorate]. Hacettepe University. [CrossRef]
• Nicholas Nalic Pierides Jr. (2023). An Ergonomic Approach For Esport Athletes: The Potential For Less Injury And Increased Occupational Performance. University of Nevada. [CrossRef]
• Pandey, R., Gaur, S., Kumar, R., Kotwal, N., & Kumar, S. (2020). Curse of the technology-computer related musculoskeletal disorders and vision syndrome: a study. International Journal of Research in Medical Sciences, 8(2), 661. [CrossRef]
• Pedraza-Ramirez, I., Musculus, L., Raab, M., & Laborde, S. (2020). Setting the scientific stage for esports psychology: a systematic review. International Review of Sport and Exercise Psychology, 13(1), 319–352. [CrossRef]
• Peter, S. C., Li, Q., Pfund, R. A., Whelan, J. P., & Meyers, A. W. (2019). Public Stigma Across Addictive Behaviors: Casino Gambling, eSports Gambling, and Internet Gaming. Journal of Gambling Studies, 35(1), 247–259. [CrossRef]
• Quka, N., Stratoberdha, Dh., & Selenica, R. (2015). Risk Factors of Poor Posture in Children and Its Prevalence. Academic Journal of Interdisciplinary Studies. [CrossRef]
• Robertson, M., Amick, B. C., DeRango, K., Rooney, T., Bazzani, L., Harrist, R., & Moore, A. (2009). The effects of an office ergonomics training and chair intervention on worker knowledge, behavior and musculoskeletal risk. Applied Ergonomics, 40(1), 124–135. [CrossRef]
• Sánchez, M., Hernández, D., Carretero, M., & Sánchez-Sánchez, J. (2019). Nivel de oposición sobre rendimiento físico y comportamiento técnico-táctico de futbolistas jóvenes. Apunts Educación Física y Deportes, 137. [CrossRef]
• Sanz-Milone, V., Yoshinori, P., & Esteves, A. M. (2021). Sleep quality of professional electronic-sport athletes (Counter Strike: Global Offensive). International Journal of Esports, 1(1). [CrossRef]
• Sharma, P., & Golchha, V. (2011). Awareness among Indian dentist regarding the role of physical activity in prevention of work related musculoskeletal disorders. Indian Journal of Dental Research, 22(3), 381. [CrossRef]
• Tang, D., Sum, K. R., Ma, R., & Ho, W. (2023). Beyond the Screen: Do Esports Participants Really Have More Physical Health Problems? Sustainability, 15(23). [CrossRef]
• The American College of Sports Medicine. (2024). [CrossRef]
• Vernon, H., & Mior, S. (1991). The Neck Disability Index: a study of reliability and validity. Journal of manipulative and physiological therapeutics, 14(7), 409–415.[CrossRef]
• Wagner, M. G. (2006). On the Scientific Relevance of eSports, In Conference on Internet Computing & Conference on Computer Games Development. 70–82. [CrossRef]
• Yang, P. Y., Ho, K. H., Chen, H. C., & Chien, M. Y. (2012). Exercise training improves sleep quality in middle-aged and older adults with sleep problems: A systematic review. Journal of Physiotherapy, 58(3). [CrossRef]
• Yükçü, S., & Kaplanoğlu, E. (2018). Uik E-Sports Industry. International Journal of Economic and Administrative Studies, 533-550. [CrossRef]
• Zwibel, H., Difrancisco-Donoghue, J., Defeo, A., & Yao, S. (2019). An osteopathic physician’s approach to the esports athlete. Journal of the American Osteopathic Association, 119(11). [CrossRef]