Physical Therapists Are Helping Esports Players Stay Fit

Its no secret that playing computer games for extended periods of time can have a negative effect on your body, mostly affecting our fingers hands and back/spine.  Bad posture is something that most gamers are guilty of, including me.  While casual gamers can probably get away with these bad habits, Esports players are a different story.  Most professional gamers play for at least 12 hours a day, and Physical Therapists, specifically, Dr. Caitlin McGee have started to notice the needs of these modern day athletes.  



While Esports players bodies don't undergo the same level of stress that football players or boxers for instance do, they still suffer very real physical ramifications from their work.  Dr. Caitlin McGee saw the opportunity while watching a friend crunch numbers for the American broadcast of the Dota Asia Championships.  She now travels around the world to various Esports competitions, helping teams train safer, and treating some of their physical issues.  McGee was absolutely astonished at the sight of some professional players postures, noticing that they sit in very unhealthy positions for hours on end.  McGee helps players notice their issues, treat their symptoms and keep them healthy for future events.  

Treating symptoms for Esports players is obviously quite different compared to more conventional athletes.  Professional gamers can often practice for 12 hours a day, making it very hard for physical therapists to institute a strict regimen.  A big part of what Mcgee is doing is teaching players how to better treat their bodies on their own since their work forces them to play continuously for ridiculously long periods, not leaving much room for rest, rejuvenation of recovery.  

 It's fairly common for people unfamiliar with video games to judge the professional industry, not understanding the amount of dedication, work and sheer skill it takes.  So it's nice to see that the professional gaming community is being noticed by different parts of society, and finally starting to be taken seriously.