Here at the New York Institute of Technology (New York Tech), our medical professionals are working to ensure that esports athletes are given the same care and attention afforded to traditional athletes, helping to optimize performance, improve health and wellness, and prolong injury-free careers.
As the NCAA explores whether to sanction esports as an official "sport," many colleges are already beginning to field college varsity teams. New York Tech created its own esports team in January 2017. Beginning in the fall of 2018, New York Tech will play a round-robin schedule under the sponsorship of the East Coast Conference, with the top four teams advancing to the ECC Esports Championship.
Why Esports Medicine?
Participation in esports presents its own unique medical problems. The average esports athlete logs 4-6 hours of practice per day, with more serious competitors logging in as much as 10 hours a day. The average esports athlete conducts more than 400 movements per minute using a mouse or keyboard.
While the most reported ailments include eye fatigue, back and neck pain, and wrist and hand injuries, the sedentary nature of esports also affects players general wellbeing, as well as their social interactions and sleep routines. The use of drugs like Ritalin and the excessive intake of caffeine or other stimulants provides additional sources of concern.
Services We Provide
Our integrated eHealth Team, including physical and occupational therapists, as well as primary care and OMM physicians, works together across specialities to offer a variety of services, including:
- Body composition scanning
- Cardiopulmonary exercise testing
- Customized chair-sizing
- Diet and nutritional guidance
- Exercise program recommendations
- Injury evaluations
- Mental and behavioral wellness evaluations
- Osteopathic manipulative medicine
- Physical and occupational therapy
- Physical exams for student-athletes (kindergarten through college)
Esports Research Studies
Meet Our Esports Medical Team: HERE
For general inquires about New York Tech Esports, or Partnership opportunities with us, please contact: esports@nyit.edu
