IMPACT OF VIDEO GAMES ON CORE MUSCLE ENDURANCE & QUALITY OF LIFE IN PREMATURE VIDEO GAMERS

Abstract

Background: Overall well-being & Musculoskeletal health is affecting due to continuous & rapid increase in video gaming among adolescents. Weakened core muscles, reduced endurance leads to negative quality of life due to poor posture & prolonged sedentary lifestyle. The aim of this study is to assess the relationship between online gaming addiction, core muscle endurance, quality of life in adolescent video gamers.
Methods: An observational cross-sectional study was performed for over six months in gaming centres across Pune. A total of 100 adolescents (mean age 16.2 years; 60 males, 40 females) were selected depending on inclusion criteria of ≥200 hours of gaming career and ≥60 hours of gameplay in the last month. Online Gaming Addiction Scale (OGAS), Horizontal Plank Test for core endurance, and World Health Organization Quality of Life (WHOQOL) scale were the outcome measures. Statistical analysis was performed using Spearman’s rank correlation to assess relationship between variables.
Results: The mean core endurance hold time was 20.8 ± 9.24 seconds, mean OGAS score was 24.4 ± 2.92, and mean WHOQOL score was 29.6 ± 9.35. No significant association was found between gaming addiction and core endurance (rho = .02, p =
.860) or between gaming addiction and WHOQOL (rho = .17, p = .089). However, a positive correlation was observed between core endurance and quality of life (rho = .44, p
< .001), indicating that participants with better core endurance reported higher quality of life.
Conclusion: There was no relationship between Gaming addiction severity & core endurance or quality of life. Improved quality of life was associated with stronger core endurance highlighting the importance of physical fitness in adolescent gamers. Future research should include larger and more diverse samples, and develop physiotherapy-led programs to reduce adverse effects of prolonged gaming.

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