Play to exhaustion: Muscular fatigue and perceived physical exertion in esports

Muscular fatigue is a critical factor influencing performance, safety, and health in daily activities and sports. Esports involves prolonged sitting and repetitive upper extremity movements, posing a risk of muscular fatigue. Continuous activity may decrease performance and increase exertion short-term, with potential long-term adverse health effects. Currently, there is a lack of biomechanical analysis in esports. This study aims to investigate the impact of esports activities on electromyography (EMG) parameters and perceived physical exertion, addressing this gap in the literature. Thirty-two healthy male esports athletes participated in two competitive video gaming sessions (90-120 minutes), with a 10-minute passive sitting break. Surface EMG data of upper trapezius muscles and wrist extensors were recorded, along with repeated
measures of perceived physical exertion using the Borg Categorical Ratio-10 scale before and after each session. Muscular fatigue was quantified using the Joint Analysis of Spectrum and Amplitude (JASA). Friedman's test was used to analyze the Borg Scale. The results showed a significant difference in the Borg scale (p < 0.001). Muscle fatigue is expected to differ between muscle groups and body sides. This study provides insights into muscular fatigue and perceived exertion in esports athletes, which could inform improved training routines and rest management.