Healthcare organizations and medical device companies are becoming increasingly involved in treating esports athletes. Here are four key developments in esports medicine in 2019.
Cleveland Clinic Sports Health will serve as the medical provider for Akron Esports at the University of Akron in Ohio. It will provide medical professionals with research data and students will receive specialized care including neurocognitive and gaming ergonomic evaluations for esports athletes.
Performance technology company Hyperice partnered with esports organization J.Storm in a recovery initiative for esports athletes. Founder of J.Storm, Jeremy Lin of the Toronto Raptors, uses Hyperice technology in his recovery and aims to help enhance esports playing conditions and longevity through the collaboration.
IKEA partnered with 3D-printed medical wearable company, UNYQ, and educational esports company, Area Academy, to develop a series of products to help improve gamers' lives at home. UNYQ develops 3D-printed medical prosthetic wears for upper and lower limb amputees and spine wears to help patients suffering from spine conditions such as scoliosis reach their treatment goals.
Vonda Wright, MD, orthopedic surgeon and chief of Northside Hospital Sports Medicine Network in Atlanta, is treating esports athletes in a new program. Dr. Wright has been researching injury prevention, recovery methods and ways to sharpen performance including hand-eye coordination, speed and agility and how to reduce mental fatigue in esports athletes.