Elite esports players and their physical health: A systematic review of injuries, musculoskeletal pain, and fitness-related factors

Authors

• Michal Steffl, Charles University, Faculty of Physical Education & Sport, Prague, Czech RepublicFollow
• Daniel Opelik, Charles University, Faculty of Physical Education & Sport, Prague, Czech RepublicFollow
• Vladimir Hlinka, Charles University, Faculty of Physical Education & Sport, Prague, Czech RepublicFollow
• Grzegorz Mikrut, 1. Institute of Sport Science, Jerzy Kukuczka Academy of Physical Education, Katowice, Poland; 2. Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Charles University, Prague, Czech RepublicFollow
• Petra Hospodkova, Department of Biomedical Technology, Faculty of Biomedical Engineering, Czech Technical University, Kladno, Czech RepublicFollow

Abstract

Background: The rapid rise of competitive esports has sparked concerns over the physical health of elite players. Prolonged sedentary behaviour, repetitive movements, and poor ergonomic practices may predispose these athletes to injuries, musculoskeletal pain, and unfavourable body composition. Materials and methods: A systematic review following PRISMA guidelines was conducted by searching Pub-Med, Scopus, EBSCOhost, and Web of Science for cross-sectional studies on physical activity (PA), body composition, physical fitness, and musculoskeletal health in elite esports players. Data from 22 peer-reviewed studies involving 5,035 participants aged 16 to 35 were synthesized. Results: Findings consistently show that esports players engage in lower levels of PA than recommended, with many recordings of daily step count and moderate-to-vigorous activity below normative guidelines. Although some maintain a normal body mass index (BMI), a significant subset exhibit elevated BMI and fat mass percentage, suggesting a risk for overweight and obesity-related conditions. Additionally, high rates of musculoskeletal complaints—including neck, back, wrist, and shoulder pain—are reported, with poor posture and reduced trunk muscle thickness evident in several studies. Conclusions: These results underscore the need for tailored health promotion strategies to enhance PA, optimize body composition, and reduce injury risk among esports athletes.

Recommended Citation

Steffl M, Opelik D, Hlinka V, Mikrut G, Hospodkova P. Elite esports players and their physical health: A systematic review of injuries, musculoskeletal pain, and fitness-related factors. Balt J Health Phys Act. 2026;18(3):Article11. DOI: 10.29359/BJHPA.18.3.11

Author ORCID Identifier

Michal STEFFL ORCID: 0000-0001-7297-8145

Daniel OPELIK ORCID: 0000-0002-1007-5466  

Grzegorz MIKRUT ORCID: 0000-0001-9137-3491

Petra HOSPODKOVA ORCID: 0000-0001-6542-8196

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial-No Derivative Works 4.0 License.