Can Different Exercise Modalities Improve Esports Performance?

Ma Ruisi

Status: Not yet enrolling

Conditions: Esports Players

Treatments: Behavioral: HIIT; Behavioral: MICT

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07150312

SBRE-24-0942

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to investigate the long-term effects of high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) on esports performance through a 12-week three-arm randomized controlled trial, and to examine the sustainability of these effects during a follow-up period after intervention cessation. Additionally, we seek to compare the differential impacts of these two exercise modalities on various dimensions of esports performance, thereby providing evidence-based guidance for esports training regimens and enhancing our understanding of the underlying mechanisms by which different exercise approaches influence cognitive and motor capabilities essential for competitive gaming.

Enrollment: 195 estimated patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

1. 18-29 years old;
2. regular FPS players engaging in shooters within the past six months;
3. healthy individuals who are capable of physical tests or HIIT;
4. no regular exercise habits;
5. can understand English or Chinese.

Exclusion criteria

1. self-reported history of neurological, psychiatric, or medical diseases;
2. current intake of medications and/or recreational drugs that could affect the central nervous system and/or the ability to learn;
3. not a regular user of Aim Lab.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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195 participants in 3 patient groups

High-intensity interval training (HIIT) group

Experimental group

Description:

A 12-week home-based HIIT exercise plan (running). Duration: Each session consists of 10 x 1-minute high-intensity bouts interspersed with 10 x 1-minute recovery periods. Adding the 3-minute warmup and 3-minute cool-down, each session totals approximately 26 minutes. This protocol is followed for 12 weeks. Intensity: High-intensity bouts are performed at 80-90% of HRmax (RPE 15-18). Recovery periods are at 40-50% of HRmax (RPE 11-13). Warm-up and cool-down are at 50% HRmax (RPE 11-13). Modality: Running, jogging, or brisk walking, either on a treadmill or outdoors. Supervision: The first three sessions are supervised in a laboratory setting. Subsequent sessions are unsupervised and performed at home with heart rate monitoring and remote data tracking via Polar Flow for Coach.

Treatment:

Behavioral: HIIT

Moderate-intensity continuous training (MICT) group

Experimental group

Description:

A 12-week home-based MICT exercise plan (running). Duration: Each session consists of 20 minutes of continuous exercise. Including the 3-minute warm-up and 3-minute cool-down, each session totals 26 minutes. This protocol is followed for 12 weeks. Intensity: Exercise is performed at 64-76% of HRmax (RPE 12-14). Warm-up and cool-down are at 50% HRmax (RPE 11-13). Modality: Running, jogging, or brisk walking, either on a treadmill or outdoors. Supervision: The first three sessions are supervised in a laboratory setting. Subsequent sessions are unsupervised and performed at home with heart rate monitoring and remote data tracking via Polar Flow for Coach.

Treatment:

Behavioral: MICT

Control

No Intervention group

Description:

No intervention. Members of the control group are required to maintain their usual habits of gaming, sleeping, eating, and exercising. The experiment does not implement any interventions for the control group.