A new study led by Australian researchers has shown that playing video games for three hours a day can lead to physical problems including eye fatigue, hand or wrist pain, and back or neck pain.
Scientists examined data from 955 individuals aged between 18 and 94 from Australia, Britain, Canada, and the United States, who took part in a 2022 International Gaming Study.
According to their paper recently published in the Computers in Human Behavior journal, the research team looked into the association between prolonged continuous gameplay and health problems identified in the previous 12 months.
“Results showed regardless of age or gender, people who played video games continuously for three or more hours were more likely to get eye fatigue and wrist, hand, back, and neck pain, compared to those who played under three hours,” said Daniel Stjepanovic, co-author of the study and senior research fellow from the University of Queensland.
“Interestingly, we found the negative physical effects of gaming for more than three hours per session were similar to those who reported gaming for more than six hours,” he noted in a statement released on Thursday.
Up to three billion enthusiasts worldwide have fallen under the spell of video gaming and e-sports, as reported by the World Health Organization.
Gary Chung Kai Chan, another co-author and associate professor from the University of Queensland, underlined the need for improved education and prevention to ensure people understand the potential risks of gaming for prolonged periods.
“Getting away from the keyboard for periods of time and considering the ergonomics of a gaming setup can help to protect the health and wellbeing of gamers,” said Chan.
