So by now I'm sure you're beginning to understand that Athletic Trainers are multi-skilled, highly diverse health care professionals, working with diverse populations in a variety of settings. Still, the profession is ever growing, with an expected job outlook of 16%. So what is the next up and coming site we can expect to see athletic trainers at?
My guess is with e-sports.
E-sports, otherwise known as electronic sports, is a form of sport competition using video games. Usually video games are some type of organized multiplayer game played between professionals either individually (i.e. NBA2k) or in teams (i.e. Dota). This is a fairly new and consistently growing industry. The international esports audience is expected to reach 453.8 million this year, generating revenues of $1.1 billion (1). The National Association of Collegiate Esports currently has more than 135 member schools with over 3,000 student athletes and varsity scholarships have been available for esports since 2014 (1). There are worldwide championship competitions for many video games, which are huge multi-day events that sell out arenas. For example, the international 2019, which is the concluding tournament of the Dota pro circuit, had 1.1 million viewers during the grand finals, generating a prize pool of $34,300,000. There is even talk of making esports an Olympic event.
Clearly esports is a increasingly popular sport, but what is often underestimated is the intense training and conditioning that is required of professionals. Athletes typically train for 12-16 hours a DAY (2). Without the assistance of athletic trainers, esports athletes can succumb to myriad injuries, both physical and mental.
Common Physical Injuries (2):
Carpal tunnel syndrome & other overuse injuries
The intense load of training and repetition in movements leave esports athletes prone to all sorts of overuse and compression injuries, the most common of which is carpal tunnel syndrome. CTS can become a chronic or surgical injury if left untreated, and with the help and education of athletic trainers, many individuals may be able to prevent these injuries from occurring.
Eye Health Concerns
The prolonged screen time that comes with competition and training can cause a myriad of eye issues and injuries. Strain, Dryness and inflammation can lead to hand eye coordination deficits and vision impairments.
Elbow, knees and feet and neck injuries
Prolonged poor posture and flexed positions (from sitting for long periods), as well as prolonged stress can contribute to several issues and injuries along the kinetic chain, namely in the elbows, knees, feet and neck.
Common mental concerns (2):
Burnout, Depression and Anxiety
E-Sports, unlike other sports, don't have a built-in off season, and the intense training required leaves little time for healthy habits. Many athletes find themselves getting poor sleep quality and quantity, eating unhealthy and leading mainly sedentary lives. The lack of job security increases the competitive nature of the sport, contributing to the intense training often resulting in a lack of time for friends and family and general social activities. Because of these factors, it's no surprise that burnout, depression and anxiety are major concerns.
Drug abuse
ADHD medication, such as Adderall is commonly used during gaming competitions as a performance enhancer. While misusing any prescription drug is an issue, the "edge" that competitors feel they receive from Adderall leads for serious potential for drug abuse.
While there are some athletic trainers, among other medical staff, currently working in the e-sports setting, this expanding sport leaves a lot of potential room for growth in the athletic training profession.
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