The idea of spending three hours hunched over a gaming console may sound like a dream to many avid gamers.
But a new study might encourage you to move away from the PlayStation.
Researchers from the University of Queensland have warned that while it can be fun, playing for long periods of time can lead to serious health problems.
From eye strain to ‘PlayStation neck’, experts say just three hours of play a day can wreak havoc on your body.
“The popularity of streaming games for hours on end contributes to the rise of unnecessary physical strain and pain,” said Janni Leung, lead author of the study.
Researchers from the University of Queensland have warned that while it can be fun, playing for long periods of time can lead to serious health problems
The UK is one of the largest markets in the world, with an estimated 51.21 million gamers.
However, until now, little research has focused on the negative physical symptoms associated with hours of playing video games.
In their new research, the team wanted to correct this.
“A better understanding of the relationship between long hours of play and physical symptoms is essential for identifying optimal play levels and promoting healthy gaming habits to minimize and prevent the development of physical health problems,” the team wrote in their study, published in Computers in human behavior.
Surveys were conducted among 955 gamers between the ages of 18 and 94.
The participants were asked about how often they played video games, whether they had plans to become a professional gamer, and their level of Internet gaming disorder.
They were also asked about any physical problems they experienced as a result of gaming.
The results showed that people who played video games for three hours or more in one session were more likely to report negative physical symptoms.
The results showed that people who played video games for three hours or more in one session were more likely to report negative physical symptoms
This included eye strain (46.1 percent), hand pain or stiff wrists (45.4 percent), back pain or neck stiffness (52.1 percent), as well as fatigue and headaches.
Interestingly, the researchers found that the effects of gaming for more than three hours per session were similar to those for more than six hours per session.
“This may indicate that the threshold for negative physical outcomes can be sufficiently reached with 3 or more hours of continuous play,” the team said.
Participants who scored high on Internet gaming disorder were four times more likely to report physical problems.
And although gamers are often depicted as young men, no gender differences were observed.
“The relationship between prolonged play and physical problems or pain held true for both younger and older individuals, although older individuals showed a higher risk of hand or wrist pain,” the team explained.
‘There was a trend for older age groups to report specific physical symptoms more often than young people aged 18 to 25, which may be explained by an increase in general physical symptoms with age.’
Based on the findings, the researchers urge gamers to take regular breaks during their gaming marathons.
“Gamers should take advantage of the ‘pause’ button and take regular breaks to prevent the build-up of chronic health conditions,” Ms. Leung concluded.
The study comes shortly after researchers created a grotesque model to show what gamers could look like in 20 years.
‘Michael’ – the video game player of the future – has bloodshot eyes, a hunched back, a dented skull and blisters on his hands as a result of his gaming habits.
“From sleep deprivation and dehydration to vitamin D deficiency, digital eye strain and ‘PlayStation thumb’ – these are just some of the physical consequences of spending hours online, in a gaming chair, away from sunlight and physical activity,” a spokesperson for OnlineCasino.ca, the Canadian site that conducted the study.