Gamers Get Hurt Too: PT Tips for eAthletes

Move over football injuries — there's a new kind of athlete facing pain, and they don’t even leave the chair.

As eSports continue to skyrocket in popularity, 2025 is proving one thing: high-level gaming isn’t just mentally taxing — it’s physically demanding, too. Professional and recreational gamers alike are facing a surge of musculoskeletal injuries once thought to be reserved for office workers or elite athletes. At Kinetik Performance and Rehab, we’re seeing more clients than ever with pain tied directly to gaming. Let’s talk about why, and what can be done.

🎯 Common Gamer Injuries We’re Seeing

1. Neck Strain (“Tech Neck”)Long hours hunched over a monitor can lead to a forward head posture, tight traps, and irritated neck joints.

2. Wrist and Hand Pain (Overuse Syndromes): Repetitive clicking and controller use can result in carpal tunnel syndrome, tendinitis, and even trigger finger.

3. Low Back Pain: Sitting for long periods — especially with poor posture — compresses the lumbar spine and weakens the core.

4. Shoulder Impingement: Gamers often round their shoulders forward, which can lead to impingement or rotator cuff irritation over time.

💡 Why Gaming Injuries Happen

Even though gaming doesn’t look physically intense, the repetition, duration, and static positioning take a toll. Think of it like running a marathon… with your fingers and forearms. Combine that with subpar posture, poor desk setups, and no regular movement, and it’s a recipe for chronic pain.

🧠 The Mental-Physical Link

The high-stress, high-focus environment of competitive gaming increases muscular tension and decreases awareness of posture. When you're locked in on-screen, you're often locked up physically, too.

✅ What Gamers Can Do — According to Our PT Team

1. Gamers Need a Pre-Game Warm-Up Too: Just like athletes stretch before a game, gamers benefit from wrist rolls, neck mobility drills, and shoulder openers.

2. Posture Check Every Hour: Set a timer to roll your shoulders back, sit upright, and do a 30-second standing stretch break.

3. Use Ergonomics to Your Advantage:

• Chair: Supportive with lumbar cushion

• Monitor: Eye-level, 20–30 inches away

• Arms: Elbows at 90°, wrists in neutral

• Feet: Flat on the ground

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4. Incorporate a Daily Mobility Routine: Foam rolling, band work, and simple yoga poses help reverse hours of static positioning.

5. See a Physical Therapist (Yes, Even for Gaming): At Kinetik, we assess posture, joint mechanics, and muscle function to build a customized plan for pain relief and long-term performance — gaming included.

🕹️ Whether You're Streaming or Scrimming — Don’t Ignore the Signals

Pain while gaming isn’t “just part of the grind.” It’s a warning sign that your body needs a reset. Our team at Kinetik Performance and Rehab helps e-athletes level up their movement, eliminate pain, and optimize reaction time with targeted physical therapy interventions.

So if your kill/death ratio is going up but your back pain is too… it’s time to press pause and let us help.

📍 Serving the Mission Viejo community with expert physical therapy for athletes of all types — including the digital kind.