Between successive confinements and social distancing measures, video games have never been better off: thus, in France alone, console sales have increased by 140% since the start of the Covid-19 epidemic. . A hobby encouraged by the World Health Organization (WHO) which declared, in June 2020, that “during confinement, video games are welcome“…
If video games can be beneficial for health (according to several studies, regular gamers have a lower risk of depression and greater attention spans / concentration), they can also harm us: beyond the video game addiction, recognized by the WHO in 2017, they can also promote the appearance of postural pain.
“The posture of a video game enthusiast can cause various injuries to the musculoskeletal system“analyzes the French Chiropractic Association. We can observe the development of elbow tendinitis (tennis elbow), carpal tunnel syndromes, tenosynovitis (characterized by inflammation of the tendon and its synovial sheath), tendinopathy of the thumb, joint damage to the wrist and fingers…
Unsurprisingly, the pain felt varies depending on the game medium: among smartphone gamers, we can see low back pain and neck pain – in connection with the “hunched” posture adopted. In console gamers, in addition to low back pain (when sitting poorly), musculoskeletal disorders of the fingers (in particular: thumbs) can appear, caused by intensive use of the controller. Finally, in computer gamers, there may be lower back pain, neck pain and/or pain in the fingers and wrists.
Video games: 4 tips to avoid postural pain
- Stand straight. Whether you play on a console, on a computer or on a smartphone, it is essential to monitor your posture to avoid the appearance of lower back pain (low back pain) or cervical pain (cervical pain). We therefore avoid the “vaulted” or “packed” posture, which is ultimately not so comfortable…
- Move regularly. For regular players, only one piece of advice: take breaks and move! Every hour (at least), we put the game on hold and we go for a few steps / some stretches in order to restore mobility to the body. This is “the” good reflex to avoid postural disorders.
- Equip yourself well. If you play several hours a day (in particular: on a computer), it is recommended that you invest in an ergonomic office chair and arrange the play area to avoid muscle and joint tension as much as possible – the screen at the right height, elbows resting on the armrests, head straight…
- To consult. From the first pains, an appointment with the chiropractor / osteopath / physiotherapist is essential… before the damage becomes irreversible!
Source : press release French Chiropractic Association.
Read also :
- Covid-19: an “epidemic” of low back pain due to telework
- Back pain: 12 good pain relief reflexes
- Postural stretching: the anti-back pain gym
