Health Hacks for Gamers

Like to spend your time winning the West in Red Dead Redemption 2 or battling it out in Call of Duty? That's great...but you may have noticed that your hands are starting to cramp and your back is starting to ache.

Excessive game time can lead to repetitive strain injuries and other health problems. “Sitting for hours on end without a break links to dehydration, inflammation and increased spinal breakdown due to the hunched posture while sitting,” says Wayne Caparas, author of BioLogic Revelation (Westbow).^{†The information provided is not an endorsement of any product, and is intended for educational purposes only. NaturesPlus does not provide medical advice and does not offer diagnosis of any conditions. Current research on this topic is not conclusive and further research may be needed in order to prove the benefits described. The conditions and symptoms described may be indicative of serious health problems, and therefore should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare practitioner.}

Here are some of the best ways to not let your body get in the way of your plans for (game) world domination.

Stand Up and Move

Sitting for 12 or more hours a day—particularly for stretches of at least 60 to 90 consecutive minutes—is really bad for your overall health, scientists say. And when combined with poor posture, staying planted in a chair too long “especially affects the neck,” says exercise physiologist Irv Rubenstein, PhD, who adds that “internal rotation of the shoulders with a rounded back causes problems for gamers.”

Gamer’s hack: Play games that make you move more. “Physically active games such as Wii help minimize the negative effects of sitting and of poor posture and can actually help you get in a workout at the same time,” says Rubenstein. Or simply play while moving about, Caparas suggests; that adds another degree of difficulty, burns more calories and requires you to use your entire body.

Stay Hydrated

Stories abound of people collapsing at their consoles due to exhaustion and dehydration after hours of gaming. Even mild dehydration can play havoc with your well-being.

Gamer’s hack: “Gamers need to strategically plan to drink at least four ounces of water per hour while sitting,” says Caparas. “Some rig their hats with water tubes that facilitate drinking while playing, but it’s far easier to establish regular rehydration breaks every 30 minutes.” (That also gets you out of your chair.) Unsweetened green tea is another good hydration option.

Stretch It Out

Muscles tend to tighten up when sitting for long periods. “Simple stretches can be easily done and even performed while playing the games,” says Rubenstein. These include:

Shoulder stretch: Bring your left arm across your body and hold it straight. With your right hand, grasp your left elbow and pull it across your body towards your chest until you feel a stretch in your left shoulder; hold 20 to 30 seconds, then repeat with the opposite arm.

Doorway chest stretch: Stand inside a door frame in a staggered stance and bring both arms up, bending at the elbows, hands up, in a goal-post position, elbows on either side of the door frame; step through the door until you feel a stretch across the chest; hold 20 to 30 seconds.

Forearm stretch: Extend your right arm straight in front of you and bring it parallel to the floor with your palm facing up towards the ceiling. Take your left hand and grab the fingers of your right hand and gently pull them back towards your elbow. Hold for 15 to 30 seconds, then switch arms.

Take a HIIT

“Intervals or high-intensity interval training (HIIT) make the most of your time,” says Rubenstein. “These short, 15- to 20-minute workouts may suit a gamer’s lifestyle better and allow them to have their play time.”

Gamer’s hack: Incorporate HIIT into your schedule two to three times a week. These include alternating short bouts of all-out effort with short increments of reduced level effort, such as sprints alternating with jogs.

Consider Ergonomics

The position of your spine can make the difference between back pain or comfort. Believe it or not, Caparas says that sitting without back support actually helps you better maintain the proper curve in your spine.

Gamer’s hack: Backless ergonomic chairs and exercise balls are available to help curb spinal breakdown caused by prolonged sitting, Caparas notes. If using a fitness ball as a chair, be sure to alternate 20 minutes on and off with a traditional chair to avoid fatigue. Anti-glare screens can help make things easy on your eyes while squeezing foam or rubber balls can give your fingers and wrists a workout.

Practice Good Posture

Sitting hunched over a keyboard wreaks havoc with your posture, which can lead to other issues such as neck and shoulder pain, including rotator cuff problems. And those problems can start early; Rubenstein notes that some people start to feel the effects of poor posture by the time they hit their 30s. “Some core, especially low back, exercises that include some shoulder exercises or bridges, with feet on floor and progressing to feet on ball, could help,” he says.

Gamer’s hack: To do bridge, start by lying on your back with knees bent, feet shoulder-width apart, arms down to your sides. Slowly lift your hips off the ground until your shoulders, hips, and knees form a straight line. Hold for a second and slowly return back to starting position but without relaxing at the bottom before doing a total of 12 to 15 reps.

†The information provided is not an endorsement of any product, and is intended for educational purposes only. NaturesPlus does not provide medical advice and does not offer diagnosis of any conditions. Current research on this topic is not conclusive and further research may be needed in order to prove the benefits described. The conditions and symptoms described may be indicative of serious health problems, and therefore should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare practitioner.The information provided is not an endorsement of any product, and is intended for educational purposes only. NaturesPlus does not provide medical advice and does not offer diagnosis of any conditions. Current research on this topic is not conclusive and further research may be needed in order to prove the benefits described.

The conditions and symptoms described may be indicative of serious health problems, and therefore should be brought to the attention of a qualified healthcare practitioner.