Ergonomic Protocol for Competitive E-Sport Athletes

NCT06781580 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: UNLV-2024-426
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 12
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if this ergonomic protocol can improve performance and reduce ergonomic risk in esports athletes. It will also learn about the insight of esports athletes and their experience in implementing this new protocol. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does this ergonomic protocol improve performance? Does this ergonomic protocol reduce ergonomic risk? Researchers will assign the protocol to esports athletes who meet inclusion criteria and express interest in participating in the study. A pre-post design will be conducted to note any differences. Participants will:

• Participate in a 6-week study with 4 in-person visits
• Volunteers will be requested to participate in a focus group during Week 6.
• Implement the strengthening protocol 3x a week and a warm up/cool down protocol before and after each gaming session.
• Attend one educational session about gaming ergonomics during Week 1
• Complete the Rapid Entire Body Assessment, Kovaaks Asessment, and a Questionnaire during Week Zero, Week 3, and Week 6.

Conditions

No Disease or Condition is Being Studied

Keywords

Ergonomics; Esports athletes; Gamers; Gaming; Ergonomic protocol; Musculoskeletal disorders; Ergonomic risk; Performance; Repetitive strain injuries; Accuracy; Aim; Postural rehabilitation; Esports

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (2)

• Rapid Entire Body Assessment (REBA)

  The REBA is a standardized ergonomic assessment tool used to evaluate the risk of musculoskeletal strain associated with specific body postures and tasks. In this study, the REBA is used to analyze the participants' gaming postures, focusing on key areas such as the neck, back, shoulders, arms, and wrists. Scores are generated based on observed postures and movements, with higher scores indicating greater ergonomic risk. This outcome measure helps identify and quantify changes in participants' ergonomic risk levels before, during, and after the intervention.

  At intervals throughout the 6 week cycle.

• Kovaaks

  Kovaaks is a gaming performance training and evaluation software designed for esports athletes. It provides customizable scenarios to assess and improve critical gaming skills, such as aim, accuracy, and reaction time. In this study, Kovaaks is used as an objective measure to track changes in participants' gaming performance over the six-week protocol. Metrics such as actions per minute (APM), accuracy percentages, and reaction times are recorded to evaluate the impact of the ergonomic intervention on performance outcomes.

  At intervals throughout the 6 week cycle.

Study Arms (1)

Ergonomic Protocol for Esports Athletes

EXPERIMENTAL

This arm of the study involves the implementation of a six-week ergonomic protocol specifically designed for esports athletes who primarily use a PC setup (mouse and keyboard). The intervention includes an educational component on proper posture, warm-ups, and cool-down exercises, as well as a postural rehabilitation program to reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries and improve gaming performance. Participants will attend four in-person sessions for assessments and training, with ergonomic risk and gaming performance evaluated at baseline, mid-point, and post-intervention. A focus group and long-term follow-up questionnaire will also be included to gather feedback and assess adherence to the protocol.

Other: Esports Ergonomic Protocol

Interventions

Esports Ergonomic Protocol OTHER

The Esports Ergonomic Protocol is a six-week intervention designed to reduce the risk of repetitive strain injuries and enhance gaming performance for esports athletes. It includes an educational session on ergonomics, focusing on proper posture, body mechanics, and workstation setup. The protocol also incorporates warm-up and cool-down exercises to prevent strain and improve flexibility, as well as a postural rehabilitation program targeting the upper extremities and core muscles. Participants will attend four in-person sessions at specified intervals for ergonomic risk assessments (using REBA) and gaming performance evaluations (using Kovaaks). The intervention also features online resources, including exercise tutorials and ergonomic tips, to support adherence and long-term implementation. Feedback will be collected through post-intervention surveys and an optional focus group to refine the protocol for future use in the esports community.

Also known as: Gaming Ergonomics Intervention, Ergonomic Training for Esports Athletes

Ergonomic Protocol for Esports Athletes

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• + years old
• Primarily participates in PC games(s) using mouse and keyboard for at least a year
• Plays at least 10 hours a week
• Must be affiliated with an established Esports team or organization
• Must have transportation

You may not qualify if:

• Individuals currently receiving treatment for self-reported pain related to prolonged gaming
• Those with a history of surgical procedures in the upper extremities
• Individuals with cognitive impairments
• Individuals with a history of a neck, shoulder, wrist, and/or back injury

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Nevada, Las Vegas: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of Nevada, Las Vegas

Las Vegas, Nevada, 89154, United States

RECRUITING

Related Links

• Information hub including educational component of the study and the protocol.

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Musculoskeletal Diseases; Cumulative Trauma Disorders; Episodic Ataxia, Type 1

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Sprains and Strains; Wounds and Injuries

Central Study Contacts

Althea Rivera

CONTACT

(702) 215 1588; rivera21@unlv.nevada.edu

Donnamarie Krause, Ph.D

CONTACT

(763) 234 2532; donnamarie.krause@unlv.edu

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: PREVENTION
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 13, 2025
• First Posted: January 17, 2025
• Study Start: February 1, 2025
• Primary Completion: April 1, 2025
• Study Completion: April 1, 2025
• Last Updated: February 27, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-02

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)