As part of the upcoming PantherLAN tournament being held at Georgia State University on April 6, the Georgia Esports League has announced it will host a panel at the event to raise awareness around esports-related health issues.
Titled “Your Esports Fitness Regimen”, the panel is designed to help current and future players maintain their health while pursuing a career in esports.
Three experts will share their knowledge on the panel. They include sports physical therapist Dr. Matt Lopez, Northside Hospital Sports Medicine Network Lead Athletic Trainer and Strength Coach Brian Finn, and licensed dietician and nutrition expert Lauren Cicinelli.
The panel is free to those that attend the event.
Andrew Greenberg, commissioner of GEL and executive director of the Georgia Game Developers Association (GGDA) said that injuries sustained while playing video games aren’t always obvious. Being in shape matters.
Esports don’t give you concussions, but players have their fitness challenges. You can’t compete for four or more hours unless you are in shape, and injuries can derail your career in an instant.
As esports become more popular, the industry is beginning to take a closer look at how the sport affects player health. Over the past few months, there have been several initiatives announced in the industry to assure players stay as healthy as possible.
In February, Skillshot Media announced a partnership with Atlanta’s Northside Hospital on an esports medicine program. Together the two organizations are offering professional SMITE and Paladins players the preventative health care needed to keep their careers going.
The partnership also allows for long-term studies into the effects of professional esports.
Despite the fact that esports seem to require less from players than traditional sports, it’s true that gaming can affect players’ bodies in a variety of ways, causing spinal issues, carpal tunnel, and other issues.
