Award Date

5-1-2025

Degree Type

Doctoral Project

Degree Name

Occupational Therapy Doctorate

Department

Brain Health

First Committee Member

Donnamarie Krause

Second Committee Member

Sharon Jalene

Number of Pages

114

Abstract

Competitive e-sport gamers are increasingly at risk for repetitive strain injuries (RSIs) due to the prolonged and repetitive nature of their gaming demands. Current healthcare protocols often overlook the unique ergonomic needs of this population, potentially leading to decreased occupational performance and dysfunction. This study aims to develop and evaluate an evidence-based ergonomic protocol tailored specifically to e-sport gamers who primarily use a mouse and keyboard, with the goal of reducing the risk of musculoskeletal injuries and enhancing gaming performance. Grounded in the principles of occupational therapy, the study emphasizes occupation-based interventions that address the specific occupational demands of e-sport gamers. Using a quasi-experimental convergent mixed methods design, the study will be conducted over the span of 6 weeks, involving esports athletes aged 18 to 30. Quantitative data on gaming performance and ergonomic risk factors was collected using Kovaaks software and the Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA), while qualitative insight was gathered through a focus group interview. It is hypothesized that the implementation of the ergonomic protocol will lead to improved posture, decreased muscle tension, and enhanced gaming performance. The findings of this study will contribute to the advancement of occupational therapy practice by providing targeted, occupation-based interventions that promote the health, well-being, and occupational performance of esports athletes.

Keywords

Competitive gaming; E-sports; Ergonomics; Gamers; Postural rehabiliation; Protocol

Disciplines

Occupational Therapy

File Format

pdf

File Size

40300 KB

Degree Grantor

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Language

English

Rights

IN COPYRIGHT. For more information about this rights statement, please visit http://rightsstatements.org/vocab/InC/1.0/

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