Summer vacation can be an exciting time for children to soak up the sun while playing with friends. But what if it is just too hot to be in the sun? Video games are an increasingly popular hobby for many youngsters. The effect video games has on health has been long debated. Is there a chance they could be beneficial?
If children are spending multiple hours daily playing video games, it is no surprise that their risk increases for eye strain, headaches, carpal tunnel and gamers thumb. Harvard Health Publishing states carpal tunnel (in which a nerve inside the wrist becomes inflamed) and gamers thumb (inflammation of the thumb tendons) are common when players use repetitive movements. The risk for childhood obesity is also elevated in correlation to sitting for long periods of time.
Although there are drawbacks, recent studies have also demonstrated many benefits. A journal article from National Library of Medicine noted online gaming can create a sense of community to players connected from different regions. In addition, video games showed beneficial for mood elevation and relaxation in a study of cancer patients by NLM. Lessened fatigue was also noted. Enhanced memory can also be demonstrated. From a therapy standpoint, improvements were made in dexterity, balance, and coordination – making video games an interesting and fun approach for some occupational and physical therapy patients.
If your children are active gamers, but struggling with tightness in the neck and shoulders, soreness in their arms or hands, or headaches, some improvements can assist in alleviating these. Kids can likely find less discomfort if they maintain good posture and have a supportive seat and desk. Monitors should be placed at an appropriate height, as well as having your child avoid sitting too close to the screen (straining their eyes, or putting pressure on their neck bent backwards). The American Optometric Association recommends following the 20-20-20 rule – every 20 minutes look at something 20 feet away for at least 20 seconds. Getting up to stretch and walk every 30 minutes, in addition to resting thumbs, wrists, and arms when sore can also be helpful. If your child is having pain or discomfort from playing video games, a physical therapist can help develop a stretching and exercise program to alleviate these issues.
To maximize the benefits of video gaming while avoiding these drawbacks, active video games can be the best of both worlds! Incorporating movement into the mix of fun, community, and coordination is the goal. Aerobic exercise has many health benefits not just limited to physical health, but also mental health. In addition to walking, running, swimming, jump roping, rowing, and cycling, aerobic exercise can be involved in video gaming. Examples include Just Dance, Wii Sports, Pokémon Go, and Zumba Fitness. These encourage movement, can enhance concentration and are fun!
Active video games can not only provide physical benefits such as improving insulin levels, cardiovascular health, and increased stamina but can also provide enhanced cognitive function. In contrast to watching cartoons or a movie in which little effort is involved mentally, active video games require quick thinking and concentration to focus on which steps or moves must be remembered and performed to advance in the game. Being up on their feet and moving to the beat can absolutely count as an engaging workout for many. Furthermore getting the whole family involved can add on to the positive impact that active gaming can have.
If video games are a regular hobby for your kiddos, we hope these tips can help maximize the positives of the gaming world! As always, if you are interested in the benefits of our therapy services, please contact us at (419)447-7203.
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