The Prevalence Of Upper Quadrant Pain In Gamers And Age-Matched Non-Gamers

This study aimed to compare upper quadrant pain in gamers (particualrly eSports players) and age-matched non-gamers. 

120 participants (90 gamers, 30 non-gamers) were surveyed cross-sectionally using an online questionnaire, which included the Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand (DASH) questionnaire. A body chart was alos used to look at location(s) of pain in the upper quadrant.

There was a higher upper quadrant pain prevalence in gamers than age-matched non-gamers (83.33% vs. 26.67%). 

Among the gaming cohort, weekly hours played was shown to be correlated with the Disability of Arm, Shoulder, and Hand questionnaire (DASH) score (R = 0.296, p = 0.002). 

Furthermore, a linear regression showed that a 1-hour increase in playtime predicted a 4.5% increase in DASH score. Wrist pain was the most prominent in gamers, while non-gamers experienced a greater frequency of neck pain. 

The findings agree with the existing literature that gamers are at risk of upper quadrant pain and dysfunction. Time appears to be a significant predictor, which is consistent with studies done on office workers with prolonged computer use. However, pain locations differed between gamers and office workers despite the similarity in activities, highlighting the need for further investigation into this area. 

This study investigated the prevalence of upper quadrant pain in gamers compared to age-matched non-gamers. A cross-sectional survey of a 120 participants revealed a significantly higher occurrence of upper quadrant pain among gamers compared to non-gamers. Additionally, a notable association was found between weekly gaming hours and musculoskeletal dysfunction.