Upper-Body Pain in Gamers: An Analysis of Demographics and Gaming Habits on Gaming-Related Pain and Discomfort

Abstract

With the rapid growth of both the gaming and esports industries, millions of individuals are now playing games as a hobby or career. The intense and repetitive nature of gaming can likely increase an individual’s susceptibility to musculoskeletal injuries and pain. The purpose of this study was to assess demographic information and gaming habits of gamers and determine any association with upper-body, gaming-related pain. An online survey was used to obtain demographic information and gaming habits of individuals, as well as the location and description of upper-body pain experienced when gaming. Of the 522 respondents, 77.8% (n = 406) reported experiencing gaming-related pain in the upper body. The most prevalent areas of pain were the neck (43.9%), lower back (41.4%), and the distal upper limb (37.9%). Few strong correlations were found between any demographics or gaming habits and the presence or intensity of pain in the upper body. The results of this study demonstrate that gaming-related pain is a problem; however, due to its complex nature, it is likely that a multifaceted interaction of both gaming habits and unaccounted lifestyle factors contributes to individualized pain development.