Zimmer Rebecca T, Haupt Sandra, Heidenreich Heiko, Schmidt Walter F J
Division of Exercise Physiology and Metabolism, Department of Sport Science, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
Division of Sport Governance and Event Management, Department of Sport Science, University of Bayreuth, Bayreuth, Germany.
Front Sports Act Living. 2022 Mar 11;4:824006. doi: 10.3389/fspor.2022.824006. eCollection 2022.
Esports is practiced by millions of people worldwide every day. On a professional level, esports has been proven to have a high stress potential and is sometimes considered equivalent to traditional sporting activities. While traditional sports have health-promoting effects through muscle activity and increased energy expenditure, amateur esports could represent a purely sedentary activity, which would carry potentially harmful effects when practiced regularly. Therefore, this study aims to investigate the acute effects of esports on the cardiovascular system and energy expenditure in amateur esports players to show whether esports can be considered as physical strain or mental stress or whether amateur esports has to be seen as purely sedentary behavior.
Thirty male subjects participated in a 30-min gaming session, playing the soccer simulation game FIFA 20 or the tactical, first-person multiplayer shooter Counter-Strike: Global Offensive. Respiratory and cardiovascular parameters, as well as energy expenditure, blood glucose, lactate, and cortisol, were determined pre-, during, and post-gaming.
There were no significant changes in oxygen uptake, carbon dioxide output, energy expenditure, stroke volume, or lactate levels. Heart rate, blood glucose and cortisol decreased through the intervention until reaching their minimum levels 10 min post-gaming (Cortisol: 3.1 ± 2.9 ng/ml, Cortisol: 2.2 ± 2.3 ng/ml, < 0.01; HR: 82 ± 11 bpm, HR: 74 ± 13 bpm, < 0.01).
A 30-min esports intervention does not positively affect energy expenditure or metabolism in amateur esports players. Therefore, it cannot provide the same health-promoting effects as traditional sports participation, but could in the long-term rather cause the same potentially health-damaging effects as purely sedentary behavior. However, it does not trigger a negative stress response in the players. Deliberate physical activity and exercise routines adapted to these demands should therefore be part of the daily life of amateur esports players.
全球每天有数以百万计的人参与电子竞技。在职业层面，电子竞技已被证明具有较高的压力潜力，有时被认为等同于传统体育活动。虽然传统体育通过肌肉活动和增加能量消耗对健康有促进作用，但业余电子竞技可能代表一种纯粹的久坐不动的活动，长期进行可能会带来潜在的有害影响。因此，本研究旨在调查电子竞技对业余电子竞技玩家心血管系统和能量消耗的急性影响，以表明电子竞技是否可被视为身体劳损或精神压力，或者业余电子竞技是否必须被视为纯粹的久坐行为。
30名男性受试者参加了一场30分钟的游戏环节，玩足球模拟游戏《FIFA 20》或战术第一人称多人射击游戏《反恐精英：全球攻势》。在游戏前、游戏期间和游戏后测定呼吸和心血管参数，以及能量消耗、血糖、乳酸和皮质醇。
摄氧量、二氧化碳排出量、能量消耗、心输出量或乳酸水平均无显著变化。通过干预，心率、血糖和皮质醇下降，直到游戏后10分钟达到最低水平（皮质醇：3.1±2.9纳克/毫升，皮质醇：2.2±2.3纳克/毫升，<0.01；心率：82±11次/分钟，心率：74±13次/分钟，<0.01）。
30分钟的电子竞技干预对业余电子竞技玩家的能量消耗或新陈代谢没有积极影响。因此，它不能提供与参与传统体育相同的健康促进效果，但从长远来看，可能会导致与纯粹久坐行为相同的潜在健康损害影响。然而，它不会在玩家中引发负面的应激反应。因此，有意识的体育活动和适应这些需求的锻炼习惯应该成为业余电子竞技玩家日常生活的一部分。
