This webinar will introduce exercise professionals to esports, including current concerns around the health sustainability of esports players, attitudes towards physical activity and exercise in esports, and applications of esports and exergames for chronic disease management. As the esports industry experiences rapid growth, the importance of understanding and supporting the health and performance needs of esports players and professionals becomes increasingly crucial for stakeholders and researchers.

Esports (and video gaming) are becoming more popular and prevalent amongst people of all ages. Given the associations between esports and sedentary behaviours, sleep disruption, and poor dietary patterns, this emerging field is of high relevance to exercise physiologists to develop strategies to support individuals’ healthy and sustainable esports practices as a primary prevention strategy for chronic disease risks. Additionally, exercise is emerging as a strategy to optimise cognitive and in-game performance, with both acute (i.e., pre-competition) and chronic exercise programs demonstrating benefit.

This webinar will provide an overview for exercise physiologists and exercise scientists on the intersection between health management and esports performance, including practical applications to enhance the wellbeing and performance of esports players through evidence-based exercise programming. Emerging research on the physiology, health characteristics, common injuries, chronic disease risk, and behaviors of esports players will be presented, including associated demands of esports lifestyles, both in- and out-of-game. This will include evidence of physical activity levels and exercise behaviors among esports players, providing insight to the unique barriers and attitudes towards exercise within this population. An overview of key exercise programming considerations will be covered, such as esports-relevant physical activity counselling (e.g., how to take an active gaming break), rehabilitation for repetitive strain injuries of the upper limbs, and aerobic exercise for cardiometabolic and cognitive health.

Lastly, the webinar will explore the application of esports and exergames, such as virtual reality and sports simulations, for chronic disease management and cognitive health in clinical settings. This emerging tool offers exciting opportunities for exercise physiologists to incorporate innovative, technology-driven approaches into their clinical practice, benefiting a wide range of patients.