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Lumbar Postural Responses During Gaming Activity: A Study with Semi-Professional and Amateur Gamers

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Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health V

Part of the book series: Studies in Systems, Decision and Control ((SSDC,volume 492))

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Abstract

Be a gamer is nowadays an important activity among young people. However, due to the number of hours that gamers spend seated in front of a computer, there is an increased risk of low-back pain (LBP). However, studies that address this problem for gamers are still scarce. The present study aimed to characterize gaming behaviours of amateur and semi-professional gamers and, through an experimental study, analyse the effect of those behaviours on lumbar postural responses. Firstly, questionnaires were developed and applied to the gamer community in Portugal to get information about gaming behaviours, habits and discomfort felt. Additionally, through an experimental study, lumbar flexion was assessed during a three-hour gaming session. A triaxial accelerometer system was used to this end. Results showed that gamers can play for seven days per week, training at least two to three hours per day. During a typical training session, it was observed that lumbar flexion angle varied trough time. Data showed data ROM% was 50.5% in the correct seating position, but during the session it ranged on average between 40.9 and 22.9%. These results suggest that gamers are at risk of LBP. Additional studies are needed in this field with the purpose to better understand the risk of musculoskeletal disorders that gamers are exposed.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank you to the gamers that voluntary participated in this study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health, ESS, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeidav, nº 400, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal

    Heber Gonçalves & Paulo Sereno

  2. CIR, ESS, Polytechnic of Porto, Rua Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida, nº 400, 4200-072, Porto, Portugal

    Rubim Santos

  3. Centre for Translational Health and Medical Biotechnology Research (T.Bio), School of Health of Polytechnic Institute of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Matilde A. Rodrigues

Authors
  1. Heber Gonçalves
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  2. Paulo Sereno
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  3. Rubim Santos
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  4. Matilde A. Rodrigues
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Matilde A. Rodrigues .

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Production and Systems, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

    Pedro M. Arezes

  2. Faculty of Human Kinetics, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal

    Rui B. Melo

  3. Department of Production and Systems, School of Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

    Paula Carneiro

  4. Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Jacqueline Castelo Branco

  5. School of Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

    Ana Colim

  6. Department of Production and Systems School of Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

    Nélson Costa

  7. School of Engineering, University of Minho, Guimarães, Portugal

    Susana Costa

  8. Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Joana Duarte

  9. Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Joana C. Guedes

  10. Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    Gonçalo Perestrelo

  11. Faculty of Engineering, University of Porto, Porto, Portugal

    J. Santos Baptista

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Gonçalves, H., Sereno, P., Santos, R., Rodrigues, M.A. (2024). Lumbar Postural Responses During Gaming Activity: A Study with Semi-Professional and Amateur Gamers. In: Arezes, P.M., et al. Occupational and Environmental Safety and Health V. Studies in Systems, Decision and Control, vol 492. Springer, Cham. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38277-2_13

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-031-38277-2_13

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  • Publisher Name: Springer, Cham

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-031-38276-5

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-031-38277-2

  • eBook Packages: EngineeringEngineering (R0)

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