ReviewBMJ open sport & exercise medicine2019
Virtual sports deserve real sports medical attention.
Review in BMJ open sport & exercise medicine, 2019. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 22 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.
What it found
Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.
The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
22 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.
- Association Between Esports Participation and Health: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis.Sports medicine - open · 2026Pooled it
- Prevalence of musculoskeletal injuries and associated risk factors in Brazilian esports players: a cross-sectional study.Scientific reports · 2026Observational
- SPINAL DISORDERS IN PROFESSIONAL ESPORTS ATHLETES: PROTOCOL FOR A SYSTEMATIC REVIEW.Acta ortopedica brasileira · 2026Review
- Pre-participation Evaluation in Recreational High-Intensity Sports: A Literature Review.Cureus · 2025Review
- Prevalence and Associated Factors of Physical Complaints Among Japanese Esports Players: A Cross-Sectional Study.Cureus · 2024Article
- Gameplay and physical activity behaviors in adult video game players.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2024Article
- It's about timing: how density can benefit future research on the optimal dosage of acute physical exercise breaks in esports.BMJ open sport & exercise medicine · 2024Article
- Article
- Perspectives of eFootball Players and Staff Members Regarding the Effects of Esports on Health: A Qualitative Study.Sports medicine - open · 2023Article
- Medical research: Are e-Sports really sports?Clinics (Sao Paulo, Brazil) · 2023Article
- Nutrition, lifestyle, and cognitive performance in esport athletes.Frontiers in nutrition · 2023Article
- Co-Transformation of Digital Health and eSport in Metaverse: Moderating Effects of Digital Personality on Mental Health in Multiplayer Online Battle Arena (MOBA).International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Article
- Analysis of Musculoskeletal Injuries Among Collegiate Varsity Electronic Sports Athletes.Cureus · 2022Article
- Associations Between Esports Participation and Health: A Scoping Review.Sports medicine (Auckland, N.Z.) · 2022Article
- Examining the Predictors of Mental Ill Health in Esport Competitors.Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Article
- Professional Esports Players: Motivation and Physical Activity Levels.International journal of environmental research and public health · 2022Observational
- Can Nutrients and Dietary Supplements Potentially Improve Cognitive Performance Also in Esports?Healthcare (Basel, Switzerland) · 2022Review
- Mental health symptoms in electronic football players.BMJ open sport & exercise medicine · 2021Article
- Physical Activity and Health Promotion in Esports and Gaming-Discussing Unique Opportunities for an Unprecedented Cultural Phenomenon.Frontiers in sports and active living · 2021Article
- Physical Activity Levels of Adult Virtual Football Players.Frontiers in psychology · 2021Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
4 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
In recent years, virtual sports or 'eSports' have grown exponentially both recreationally and at the professional level. eSports comprise several regulated video games played competitively, using electronic platforms. Some eSports competitions present a structure comparable to traditional sports, and eSports players, even with major skills and mental focus, need preparation and training to thrive. However, little is known about the demands of eSports competitions and continuous training. As the popularity and stakes rise, concerns about the health and emerging risks of eSports participation might arise. Indeed, in the absence of proper descriptive data about the specific characteristics of the eSports population (including factors such as screen time, physical activity, overuse injuries or training environment), effective prevention and care cannot be developed nor provided. Therefore, quality healthcare and prevention strategies are needed. In the current viewpoint, we argue that those involved with Sports Science and Medicine should lead the discussion and reflect on the health effects of eSports participation, providing scientifically-based arguments to better answer to the current eSports professionalism.
Indexed as
Identifiers
What OpenQuestion holds
Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.