Gamers often spend hours in the same position, concentrated, immobile... and that's exactly what tires their back, neck, and shoulders.
Recent studies show that among intensive players:
≈42% suffer from neck or back pain
32–36% have wrist or hand pain
56% experience significant eye strain
Why are gamers more affected?
1. Leaning forward posture
When the screen is too low, the head moves forward.
Result: neck muscles are constantly strained → fatigue + pain.
2. Prolonged immobility
Long sessions (2 hours, 4 hours, or more) cause shoulders and spine to stiffen.
Prolonged static posture increases the risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders (MSDs).
3. Poor equipment ergonomics
Unadjusted chair, arms too high, keyboard too far forward...
All of this increases tension.
Frequent consequences
Neck pain
Stiffness in the shoulder blades
Faster mental fatigue
Decreased concentration after several hours
Headaches related to posture + screen
Studies confirm that posture and visual fatigue are two major factors in these pains.
How to protect posture while gaming?
Place the screen at eye level
Keep shoulders low
Take breaks every 45–60 minutes
Adjust the chair so feet are flat on the floor
Relax the neck regularly
Several scientific studies show that video game and e-sport players are exposed to health problems related to prolonged and non-ergonomic posture:
A high prevalence of neck, shoulder, and back pain associated with long sessions.
An increased risk of Musculoskeletal Disorders in mobile players
Poorer spinal posture observed in professional e-sport players
And a high occurrence of eye strain and physical pain in professional players. Here are some interesting links on this topic:
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9288077/
https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9138953/
https://bmcsportsscimedrehabil.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13102-024-00810-y
For players who no longer feel when they relax, a gentle guide like Ocilys can help maintain a more neutral and comfortable posture... even during long sessions.