Do Esports Players Experience Pain? Pain Prevalence of Esports Players: a Systematic Review and Meta-analysis

In this meta-analysis a considerable prevalence of pain among esports players was observed, especially in the spine and upper extremities. However, the results should be interpreted with caution due to methodological heterogeneity and limited study numbers. Nevertheless, they emphasize the need for preventive strategies, such as regular breaks during prolonged sitting, ergonomic interventions and load management programs to optimize training volume and recovery, thereby reducing the risk of musculoskeletal strain. Future research should distinguish between acute and chronic pain, use standardized tools, and explore device-specific pain patterns to inform targeted interventions. Registration number PROSPERO ID: CRD42024599339.