Care of the Esports Athlete

Abstract

The growth of electronic sports (esports), or competitive video gaming, in recent years has led to an increasing number of players seeking care for injuries and injury prevention associated with esports. In addition, the increase of esports players seeking care from health care professionals leads to a heightened awareness about the role of health and lifestyle in esports performance. Unfortunately, few health care professionals are familiar with the physical and mental demands of this sport or are comfortable addressing the needs of this athletic population and the issues that they encounter affecting their health and their sport. This article offers an overview of common esports health issues and considerations specific to esports athletic care for the sports medicine physician in support of optimizing the care of these patients.