Body composition and musculoskeletal measurements in skilled E-athletes

Aim. The paper aims to evaluate body composition and postural balance in skilled e-athletes. Materials and methods. The study involved 28 male e-athletes from 18 to 24 years of age (e-sports experience of at least 6 years) who participated in at least 12 e-sports tournaments of different levels per year. Body composition data was obtained with the Tanita BC-18 MA body composition analyzer (Japan). Postural balance was evaluated with the MBN force platform (Russia). Results. The total body mass, body mass index, and fat mass of e-athletes were within reference values. However, segmental body composition analysis demonstrated certain features of fat distribution in e-athletes. The lowest fat percentage was observed in the lower limbs (12.88% and 12.99% in the left and right legs, respectively), while the highest one was recorded in the upper limbs (18.78% and 19.13% in the left and right arms, respectively). Stabilometric measurements showed an extremely low level of postural balance in e-athletes compared to traditional sports activities. The displacement of the common center of pressure was recorded (20.91 mm to the right and 18.53 mm backwards). The ellipse area and CoP velocity significantly exceeded reference values and could be a sign of hyperpronation/valgus deformity. Conclusion. E-sports still require further studies to acquire a better understanding of their activities and related needs, including nutritional and recovery needs. The study demonstrated features of e-athletes associated with fat distribution and musculoskeletal performance that may result in severe health conditions.