As a senior exercise science major at Missouri State University, I recently completed a research study with the help of Dr. Scott Richmond to examine the effects of exercise programming on competitive video game performance.
The study had five amateur competitive gamers from the local Springfield area compete in a pre-trial and post-trial tournament of the video game, League of Legends.
For both tournaments, participants drew a number out of a hat to determine their seeding and were placed on a bracket. The tournaments were double elimination and consisted of 1v1’s on Summoners Rift, staying in mid lane only. Each game had a 15 minute time limit.
The winner was determined on a point system with 1 creep score equaling 1 point, 1 kill equaling 5 points, and 1 tower equaling 10 points.
The performance statistics being measured were win%, kill/death ratio, total creep score, total points, and overall placing in the tournaments. After each game, the statistics were recorded for each participant and totaled for each tournament.
After the pre-trial tournament, the participants were randomly assigned one of two groups – an exercise programming group and a no exercise control group. The exercise programming group did 3 workouts per week. There were two cardio workouts on a stationary bike for 30 minutes and one full body weight lifting workout.
The trial period lasted 4 weeks. Our hypothesis was that the exercise programming group would perform better in the post-trial tournament compared to the pre-trial tournament indicating improved performance.
The results were significant in showing that the exercise programming group performed better in the post-trial tournament compared to the pre-trial tournament. The exercise group averages increased in every performance category with a 28.9% increase in win%, 1.4 increase in K/D ratio, 8.7 increase in creep score/games played, 14.4 increase in total points/games played, and an average increase of one placing.
The performance improvements may be the result of the psychological, physiological, health and performance benefits of exercise. We know effective exercise programs can improve learning and brain function, cognitive performance, motor skills, and overall health which are important for any competitive gamers.
The sample size was small for this study but the effects of structured exercise may help improve competitive video game performance and this may help persuade many competitive gamers to incorporate exercise training regimens into their lives.
You can read the full research study below.
Please like and share to spread awareness and let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Best regards,
Jake Middleton
For both tournaments, participants drew a number out of a hat to determine their seeding and were placed on a bracket. The tournaments were double elimination and consisted of 1v1’s on Summoners Rift, staying in mid lane only. Each game had a 15 minute time limit.
The winner was determined on a point system with 1 creep score equaling 1 point, 1 kill equaling 5 points, and 1 tower equaling 10 points.
The performance statistics being measured were win%, kill/death ratio, total creep score, total points, and overall placing in the tournaments. After each game, the statistics were recorded for each participant and totaled for each tournament.
After the pre-trial tournament, the participants were randomly assigned one of two groups – an exercise programming group and a no exercise control group. The exercise programming group did 3 workouts per week. There were two cardio workouts on a stationary bike for 30 minutes and one full body weight lifting workout.
The trial period lasted 4 weeks. Our hypothesis was that the exercise programming group would perform better in the post-trial tournament compared to the pre-trial tournament indicating improved performance.
The results were significant in showing that the exercise programming group performed better in the post-trial tournament compared to the pre-trial tournament. The exercise group averages increased in every performance category with a 28.9% increase in win%, 1.4 increase in K/D ratio, 8.7 increase in creep score/games played, 14.4 increase in total points/games played, and an average increase of one placing.
The performance improvements may be the result of the psychological, physiological, health and performance benefits of exercise. We know effective exercise programs can improve learning and brain function, cognitive performance, motor skills, and overall health which are important for any competitive gamers.
The sample size was small for this study but the effects of structured exercise may help improve competitive video game performance and this may help persuade many competitive gamers to incorporate exercise training regimens into their lives.
You can read the full research study below.
Please like and share to spread awareness and let me know your thoughts in the comments below!
Best regards,
Jake Middleton