Breaking up prolonged sitting with a 6 min walk improves executive function in women and men esports players: a randomised trial

Objective The effect of prolonged sitting on executive function and performance in competitive esports players are unknown. This study aimed to evaluate executive function following a 6 min bout of walking or rest during prolonged gaming in competitive esports players.Methods 12 men and 9 women comp...

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Main Authors: Joanne DiFrancisco-Donoghue, Seth E Jenny, Peter C Douris, Sophia Ahmad, Kyle Yuen, Tamzid Hassan, Hillary Gan, Kenney Abraham, Amber Sousa
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: BMJ Publishing Group 2021-09-01
Series:BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
Online Access:https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/7/3/e001118.full
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author Joanne DiFrancisco-Donoghue
Seth E Jenny
Peter C Douris
Sophia Ahmad
Kyle Yuen
Tamzid Hassan
Hillary Gan
Kenney Abraham
Amber Sousa
author_facet Joanne DiFrancisco-Donoghue
Seth E Jenny
Peter C Douris
Sophia Ahmad
Kyle Yuen
Tamzid Hassan
Hillary Gan
Kenney Abraham
Amber Sousa
author_sort Joanne DiFrancisco-Donoghue
collection DOAJ
description Objective The effect of prolonged sitting on executive function and performance in competitive esports players are unknown. This study aimed to evaluate executive function following a 6 min bout of walking or rest during prolonged gaming in competitive esports players.Methods 12 men and 9 women completed three separate 2-hour gaming session days assigned in randomised order consisting of a 6 min walk break, 6 min rest break and continuous before and after each session. Postintervention participant exit survey data were also collected.Results The walk condition produced a significantly faster mean solution time (7613.6±3060.5 min, p=0.02) and planning time (5369.0±2802.09, p=0.04) compared with the resting condition (9477±3547.4; 6924±3247.7) and continuous play (8200.0±3031.6; 5862.7±2860.7). The rest condition resulted in the slowest mean solution time (9477.0±3547.4) and planning time (6924.0±3247.7), with the continuous play resulting in a faster mean solution time (8200.1±3031.6) and planning time (5862.7±2860.7) than the rest condition. There was no impact on game performance in any of the conditions. However, over 70% of participants felt that the walk break improved esports performance.Conclusions Reducing sit time and breaking up prolonged sitting have acute and chronic health benefits. This study provides evidence that a 6 min walking break in the middle of 2 hours of gameplay allows gamers to have these health benefits while improving processing speed and executive function.Trial registration number NCT04674436.
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spelling doaj-art-53d3ca41e4ee44e5b3044295c5d99af02025-08-20T01:54:22ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine2055-76472021-09-017310.1136/bmjsem-2021-001118Breaking up prolonged sitting with a 6 min walk improves executive function in women and men esports players: a randomised trialJoanne DiFrancisco-Donoghue0Seth E Jenny1Peter C Douris2Sophia Ahmad3Kyle Yuen4Tamzid Hassan5Hillary Gan6Kenney Abraham7Amber Sousa8Department of Osteopathic Medicine, New York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USADepartment of Exercise & Rehabilitative Sciences, Slippery Rock University of Pennsylvania, Slippery Rock, Pennsylvania, USANew York Institute of Technology School of Health Professions, Old Westbury, New York, USANew York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USANew York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USANew York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USANew York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USANew York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USANew York Institute of Technology College of Osteopathic Medicine, Old Westbury, New York, USAObjective The effect of prolonged sitting on executive function and performance in competitive esports players are unknown. This study aimed to evaluate executive function following a 6 min bout of walking or rest during prolonged gaming in competitive esports players.Methods 12 men and 9 women completed three separate 2-hour gaming session days assigned in randomised order consisting of a 6 min walk break, 6 min rest break and continuous before and after each session. Postintervention participant exit survey data were also collected.Results The walk condition produced a significantly faster mean solution time (7613.6±3060.5 min, p=0.02) and planning time (5369.0±2802.09, p=0.04) compared with the resting condition (9477±3547.4; 6924±3247.7) and continuous play (8200.0±3031.6; 5862.7±2860.7). The rest condition resulted in the slowest mean solution time (9477.0±3547.4) and planning time (6924.0±3247.7), with the continuous play resulting in a faster mean solution time (8200.1±3031.6) and planning time (5862.7±2860.7) than the rest condition. There was no impact on game performance in any of the conditions. However, over 70% of participants felt that the walk break improved esports performance.Conclusions Reducing sit time and breaking up prolonged sitting have acute and chronic health benefits. This study provides evidence that a 6 min walking break in the middle of 2 hours of gameplay allows gamers to have these health benefits while improving processing speed and executive function.Trial registration number NCT04674436.https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/7/3/e001118.full
spellingShingle Joanne DiFrancisco-Donoghue
Seth E Jenny
Peter C Douris
Sophia Ahmad
Kyle Yuen
Tamzid Hassan
Hillary Gan
Kenney Abraham
Amber Sousa
Breaking up prolonged sitting with a 6 min walk improves executive function in women and men esports players: a randomised trial
BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine
title Breaking up prolonged sitting with a 6 min walk improves executive function in women and men esports players: a randomised trial
title_full Breaking up prolonged sitting with a 6 min walk improves executive function in women and men esports players: a randomised trial
title_fullStr Breaking up prolonged sitting with a 6 min walk improves executive function in women and men esports players: a randomised trial
title_full_unstemmed Breaking up prolonged sitting with a 6 min walk improves executive function in women and men esports players: a randomised trial
title_short Breaking up prolonged sitting with a 6 min walk improves executive function in women and men esports players: a randomised trial
title_sort breaking up prolonged sitting with a 6 min walk improves executive function in women and men esports players a randomised trial
url https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/7/3/e001118.full
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