HI(I)T It Like It Matters: Physical Exercise Before Gaming
Physical exercise is known to benefit performance across many fields in life. HIIT (high-intensity interval training) was shown to improve attention, task switching, and memory. However, does working out before gaming support your in-game rank? Here's what the science says.
• Studies have shown HIIT training to improve memory, attention, and task switching.
• HIIT before playing may also improve gaming performance.
• The researcher find that a 30 min. HIIT training before playing increases the odds of winning.
• The chances of winning a game after having lost the first one doubled from 6% to 12%.
Without a doubt, physical exercise is good in general, and known to improve physical and cognitive performance–including gaming. However, exercise or physical activity typically refers to working out in general, over a long period of time. But what about short-term exercise (HIIT–high-intensity interval training)? Does that have a positive impact on your in-game performance?
Some research has already shown that HIIT training has positive effects on memory tests, attention, and task switching. The latter two are also important for gaming. This has also been "confirmed" by players who stated in one study:
"... nearly 56% of [high-rank League of Legends] esport athletes believe that exercise improves their ability to succeed in competition, and esport athletes self-report >1 hr of physical activity per day." [1]
Therefore, it makes sense to investigate whether HIIT training has positive effects for gaming: "This study investigated the effects of HIIT on esport performance in competitive esport athletes." [1]
🚴♂️ Treat Your Legs to Treat Your MMR
For anyone interested, the figure below shows the exercise protocol.
In order to assess if the HIIT training before playing had an effect, two 28 players were separated into two groups. The first one didn't exercise before playing, the second one did. Players then competed against each other (1 from the HIIT group and one from the non-HIIT group). Don't worry, the researchers made sure that the level of the players were very similar.
"[The study] results indicates that participants in the exercise group improved their odds of winning... after the acute exercise intervention [HIIT]." [1]
🥡 The Takeaways
This study shows that, apparently, there's another way to improve your in-game performance: a 30 min. HIIT training before playing. In the words of the authors:
"The primary finding of this study is that a single, 30-min bout of HIIT exercise immediately prior to esport competition improves the odds that a competitor will win." [1]
To put this into perspective: the changes of winning a game after having lost the first one doubled from 6% to 12%. According to the researchers, this is, likely, the result of the HIIT intervention. Although the study only included Smash Brother players, chances are that the results transfer to other games.
Read you all next Sunday. Cheers.
Christian 🙂
