Video Games May Offer Health Benefits, Experts Say
TUESDAY, 13 FEBRUARY 2022
A recent investigation into the health effects of playing video games, conducted by the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA), a teaching institution and certification agency for fitness trainers, resulted in some unexpected findings.
Video games have often been blamed as a contributing factor to the nation's epidemic of obesity, high blood pressure, Type II diabetes and other lifestyle diseases largely caused by inactivity and a lack of physical exercise. However, with the implementation of new technologies, video games may prove to be just what fitness experts are looking for to help their clients get more active, increase their heart rate and spend less time sitting on the couch.
"Exertainment and home video consoles are the wave of the future," asserts Dr. Josh Trout, Professor of Kinesiology at California State University Chico, who specializes in video game technology and exercise movement. "Exergaming can provide excellent health benefits, but so can a Stairmaster, lifecycle or treadmill, if you do it. If a person has chosen a sedentary lifestyle, there is not much a new technology is going to do for them. On that note, exergaming, and exertainment, is an excellent way for getting kids hooked on physical activity, producing good exercise habits that can last their lifetime."
Since 1988, the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) has provided personal trainers, aerobic instructors and medical professionals in every field of healthcare with an education in the fitness sciences. The ISSA has been providing certification and continuing education to personal trainers who own and operate fitness facilities, managers and fitness directors of health clubs and general populations that want to increase their knowledge base.
In examining the potential benefits of movement based video games on the nation's fitness, the ISSA reached into this pool of educated and knowledgeable fitness professionals and posted several questions on their interactive members' discussion board. Personal trainers were asked about possible health benefits and risks related to the use of 'exertainment' technologies implemented in such consoles as the Microsoft Xbox, the Sony Playstation 3, and the Nintendo Wii.
It is important to note that medical side effects of playing video games have been reported, including photosensitive epilepsy, hand and eye strains, auditory hallucinations, wrist pain, neck pain and repetitive strain injuries. All the case studies showing negative consequences of playing were of children and adolescents who used video games excessively. While sufficient research is still needed, ISSA's findings suggest that people who play video games excessively are at the most risk for developing health problems. As with anything in life, the key to reaping health benefits from exergaming lies in moderation.
Regardless of your intentions for playing, whether it is to relax after a hard day's work, a long night studying, or just to sit on the couch, you just might find yourself breaking a sweat and burning some calories when you think all you're doing is having a good time.
Source:
eMediaWire
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