Authors :
Ayushi; Dr. Jaganjyoti Das; Dr. Harsirjan Kaur
Volume/Issue :
Volume 11 - 2026, Issue 1 - January
Google Scholar :
https://tinyurl.com/2wx9j3vu
Scribd :
https://tinyurl.com/mr3dbwkr
DOI :
https://doi.org/10.38124/ijisrt/26jan146
Note : A published paper may take 4-5 working days from the publication date to appear in PlumX Metrics, Semantic Scholar, and ResearchGate.
Abstract :
The e-sports world is rapidly professionalizing, creating a highly risky performance environment concerning long
hours of static posture, intense and repetitive movements of the upper limbs, and sustained visual and cognitive loads. The
biomechanical stresses are leading to a high prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases amongst e-sports athletes. Training
regimes for these athletes span from 5 to 12 hours with a myriad of exposures causing serious risks for their cervical, thoracic,
lumbar spine and upper extremities due to bad ergonomics, lack of variability of movements, and sustained flexed postures.
Such worldwide participation is on the rise but there exists scant evidence synthesis of the biomechanical and
musculoskeletal implications of e-sports, especially concerning injury mechanisms and preventive intervention avenues.
Aims:
The aim of this integrative literature review is to identify, synthesize and critically analyse the current evidence
analysing the biomechanical risk factors, musculoskeletal disorders, and intervention strategies resulting from esports
participation.
Design:
Integrative literature review.
Methods:
A thorough search system of the peer-reviewed primary studies was conducted across electronic databases.
Participating studies had to involve e-sport athletes and provide biomechanical, postural, ergonomic, or muscular outcomes.
Data were then extracted and appraised using the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool (CCAT) before being grouped thematically,
following Burnard's (2011) content analysis framework.
Results:
Nine different primary studies met the eligibility criteria. In studies with cross-sectional and experimental designs, a
high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was noted, with neck, shoulder, upper back, lumbar spine, wrist, and hand
regions being the most affected. Most significant contributors to biomechanics were prolonged gaming hours, maladaptive
postures including forward head posture and thoracic kyphosis, decreased craniovertebral angle, poor screen ergonomics,
and high levels of digital engagement or even gaming addiction. While research does not correlate forward head posture to
MSDs, almost all have emphasized the cumulative effect of static loading and repetitive movement. Intervention studies
indicate that ergonomic training coupled with physical exercise has produced positive outcomes.
Conclusion:
Musculoskeletal disorders among e-sports athletes are not rare, seemingly associated with modifiable biomechanical
and ergonomic factors. The evidence supports a multiple-hurdle approach toward the active prevention of MSD:
workstation optimization, postural corrections, load management, and physiotherapist-supervised exercise interventions.
This finding is reshaping clinical inspection, athlete management, and injury prevention within the burgeoning field of
esports.
Keywords :
E-Sports; Musculoskeletal Disorders; Ergonomics; Biomechanics; Posture; Gaming Sports.
References :
- Gürgan, Atakan & Şevgi̇n, Ömer. (2024). Effect of Ergonomic Training and Exercise in Esports Players: A Randomized Controlled Trial. International Journal of Disabilities Sports and Health Sciences. 7. 867-876. doi: 10.33438/ijdshs.1481857.
- Khan M, Chaikumarn M. Musculoskeletal disorders, perceived stress, and ergonomic risk factors among smartphone eSports athletes: A cross-sectional study. J Musculoskelet Surg Res. 2024; 8:247-55. doi: 10.25259/JMSR_113_2024
- Kurniawan AA, Darusman KR, Chesar TIP, Azalia X and Kholinne E (2024) Comparing health risks and musculoskeletal issues between professional and casual mobile esports players: a cross-sectional descriptive study in Jakarta. Front. Sports Act. Living 6:1372979. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2024.1372979
- Lam WK, Liu RT, Chen B, Huang XZ, Yi J, Wong DW. Health Risks and Musculoskeletal Problems of Elite Mobile Esports Players: a Cross-Sectional Descriptive Study. Sports Med Open. 2022 May 13;8(1):65. doi: 10.1186/s40798-022-00458-3. PMID: 35553264; PMCID: PMC9106768.
- Lindberg L, Nielsen SB, Damgaard M, Sloth OR, Rathleff MS, Straszek CL. Musculoskeletal pain is common in competitive gaming: a cross-sectional study among Danish esports athletes. BMJ Open Sport Exerc Med. 2020 Aug 28;6(1):000799. doi: 10.1136/bmjsem-2020-000799. PMID: 33585039; PMCID: PMC7876625.
- Lam,W.-K.; Chen, B.; Liu, R.-T.; Cheung, J.C.-W.;Wong, D.W.-C. Spine Posture, Mobility, and Stability of Top Mobile Esports Athletes: A Case Series. Biology 2022, 11, 737. https://doi.org/10.3390/biology11050737
- Riszki NM, Rahman F. Factor Analysis of Game Addiction, Playtime, and Craniovertebral Angle on Musculoskeletal Disorders among Esports Players. Rev. Investig. Innov. Cienc. Salud [Internet]. 2025 Jul. 3 [cited 2025 Dec. 13];7(2):1-18. Available from: https://riics.info/index.php/RCMC/article/view/420
- Tariq, Haris & Munir, Muzna & Hameed, Ammar & Hassan, Zainab & Anwar, Naveed & Khalid, Kehkshan & Anwar, Hassan. (2021). Comparative Effects of Postural Correction VS Myofascial Release Among E- Sports Players with Neck Pain and Disability Comparative Effects of Postural Correction VS Myofascial Release Among E-Sports Players with Neck Pain and Disability.
- Fitri AA., Isnaini Herawati I. Forward Head Posture, Musculoskeletal Disorders, and Gaming Habits: A Cross-Sectional Study MIFI – Indonesian Scientific Journal of Physiotherapy. 2025;13(1):120-26. https://ejournal2.unud.ac.id/index.php/mifi/index
- Dharma IKDW, Andika NWT, Chandra Dewi LNA, Paramurthi IAP, Kurniawati I. Online Game Duration Associated to Neck Functional Disability in Esports Athletes. Physical Therapist journal of Indonesia. Vol. 1 No. 2 (2020): July-December 2020. https://doi.org/10.51559/ptji.v1i2.7
- Khan, Muhammad Athar, "Musculoskeletal disorders, perceived stress, and ergonomic risk factors among Pakistani smartphone esports athletes" (2023). Chulalongkorn University Theses and Dissertations (Chula ETD). 12584. https://digital.car.chula.ac.th/chulaetd/12584
- Antoine Dupuy, Mark J. Campbell, Andrew J. Harrison & Adam J. Toth (2024) On the necessity for biomechanics research in esports, Sports Biomechanics, 23:12, 2431-2443. https://doi.org/10.1080/14763141.2024.2354440
- Whittemore R, Knafl K. The integrative review: updated methodology. J Adv Nurs. 2005 Dec;52(5):546-53. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2648.2005.03621. x. PMID: 16268861.
- Bhamra, R., Dani, S., & Burnard, K. (2011). Resilience: The Concept, a Literature Review and Future Directions. International Journal of Production Research, 49, 5375-5393. https://doi.org/10.1080/00207543.2011.563826
The e-sports world is rapidly professionalizing, creating a highly risky performance environment concerning long
hours of static posture, intense and repetitive movements of the upper limbs, and sustained visual and cognitive loads. The
biomechanical stresses are leading to a high prevalence of musculoskeletal diseases amongst e-sports athletes. Training
regimes for these athletes span from 5 to 12 hours with a myriad of exposures causing serious risks for their cervical, thoracic,
lumbar spine and upper extremities due to bad ergonomics, lack of variability of movements, and sustained flexed postures.
Such worldwide participation is on the rise but there exists scant evidence synthesis of the biomechanical and
musculoskeletal implications of e-sports, especially concerning injury mechanisms and preventive intervention avenues.
Aims:
The aim of this integrative literature review is to identify, synthesize and critically analyse the current evidence
analysing the biomechanical risk factors, musculoskeletal disorders, and intervention strategies resulting from esports
participation.
Design:
Integrative literature review.
Methods:
A thorough search system of the peer-reviewed primary studies was conducted across electronic databases.
Participating studies had to involve e-sport athletes and provide biomechanical, postural, ergonomic, or muscular outcomes.
Data were then extracted and appraised using the Crowe Critical Appraisal Tool (CCAT) before being grouped thematically,
following Burnard's (2011) content analysis framework.
Results:
Nine different primary studies met the eligibility criteria. In studies with cross-sectional and experimental designs, a
high prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders was noted, with neck, shoulder, upper back, lumbar spine, wrist, and hand
regions being the most affected. Most significant contributors to biomechanics were prolonged gaming hours, maladaptive
postures including forward head posture and thoracic kyphosis, decreased craniovertebral angle, poor screen ergonomics,
and high levels of digital engagement or even gaming addiction. While research does not correlate forward head posture to
MSDs, almost all have emphasized the cumulative effect of static loading and repetitive movement. Intervention studies
indicate that ergonomic training coupled with physical exercise has produced positive outcomes.
Conclusion:
Musculoskeletal disorders among e-sports athletes are not rare, seemingly associated with modifiable biomechanical
and ergonomic factors. The evidence supports a multiple-hurdle approach toward the active prevention of MSD:
workstation optimization, postural corrections, load management, and physiotherapist-supervised exercise interventions.
This finding is reshaping clinical inspection, athlete management, and injury prevention within the burgeoning field of
esports.
Keywords :
E-Sports; Musculoskeletal Disorders; Ergonomics; Biomechanics; Posture; Gaming Sports.
