How Gaming Can Cause Body Pain
If it seems to you like video games are getting more popular by the day, you aren’t imagining things. There are countless ways to game today, and new experiences are always emerging. Accordingly, Screenrant reported in 2020 that there are now more than three billion people who play video games around the world.
This is all well and good to some extent. People need their recreation, and gaming can help to relieve stress, build relationships, and offer an outlet from the troubles of day-to-day life. The downside, however, is that gaming can also cause body pain — and it doesn’t really matter what kind of gaming we’re talking about. Consider a few examples from across the spectrum:
Console Gaming — Console video games have gotten incredibly expansive. Whether you opt for open-world adventures, multiplayer strategy games, role-playing experiences, shooters, or even sports games, you can be in for hours-long sessions of full immersion in fictional worlds. The appeal is clear, but the real-world effect is that you’ll often end up in the same seated position for long stretches of time — and usually not in a pose that does your joints or posture any favours.
Mobile Gaming — Mobile gaming is looked at, rightly, as a space in which players can enjoy extraordinary variety. And yet when you really break down the different gaming experiences you may be surprised at how similar their demands on the body are.
But people playing any of these games are basically doing the same thing: sitting with their necks bent forward, their heads dropped low, and their thumbs straining through tapping and swiping motions to no end.
Online Casinos — Online casino games (slots, roulette, etc.) may seem less inclined to bother players physically, because they can be played very quickly. That said, this category is approaching engagement to rival console games, and variety to rival mobile! This isn’t always evident when you simply come across a digital roulette wheel, but when you look into slots in particular it’s a whole new category compared to what it was a few years ago.
Gala Spins’ game selection is particularly quick to showcase the latest and greatest in online casino spheres, and at this time is showcasing a number of games that exemplify the change. New titles like Gonzo’s Gold and Age of Akkadia, as well as some exclusives like Big Banker and Loot’en Khamun possess every bit the sense of adventure you find in engaging mobile and console games. This makes for a lot of fun, but unfortunately it can mean similarly long, sedentary sessions for players.
Online Poker — Online poker is perhaps the most straightforward example. Games can last for hours at a time, and require players to sit still and pay close attention. It’s true that lots of gamers who are more serious about their poker (or PC gaming) these days are investing in special, ergonomic chairs in order to offset the ill effects. But a lengthy poker session or a bit of tournament play still means a very long time staying seated.
These examples from across the gaming world make clear that the hobby can be detrimental to physical comfort. Different kinds of video games can lead to prolonged sitting, unnaturally unflinching focus, and even some excessive use of thumbs and fingers. A single session can be uncomfortable; regular gaming can cause legitimate body pain.
It’s a problem gamers should look to solve, and those who are already experiencing body pain would do well to explore our services at Rub Massage and take steps to get on top of poor posture and pain.
