Playing Xbox the “Right” Way to Stay Healthy Think about the reasons why you purchased your Xbox gaming console. It was probably to play games, have fun and relax and escape from the daily pressures of every day life. The last thing you want to do is hurt yourself playing games! Unfortunately, not many people think about the ramifications of how they sit when they play or their posture. You might not realize that the repetitive movements that often accompany playing these types of gaming consoles can be hurtful in the long run. There are definite ways to play the “right” way to stay healthy. When you are playing your games or even playing on the computer, you might notice occasional pain or discomfort in certain parts of your body like your wrists, hands, shoulders, neck, arms, and more. It is important to note that ignoring these symptoms can cause you more harm than good. If left unchecked, you could develop chronic pain that extends beyond your game playing sessions. Symptoms like throbbing pain, achy-ness, numbness, burning sensations, tingling or stiffness can signal some type of musculoskeletal disorder. This means that your muscles, nerves and blood vessels are affected. Medical professionals agree that a number of factors play a part in developing a musculoskeletal disorder and can include: pre-existing medical conditions, stress, your health and body positioning during physical tasks such as playing your Xbox games. The time spent indulging in repetitive physical activity also plays a factor in injuring your musculoskeletal system. Experts in the medical field believe that correct positioning, relaxed body parts, maintaining a healthy lifestyle and taking breaks are important to decreasing your chances of developing a musculoskeletal disorder. Correct positioning when playing your Xbox games entails maintaining a good posture and choosing a position that is relaxing to you while still conducive to playing games. It is important to avoid staying in one position for too long. This can cause discomfort. Be sure to support your back by selecting a seat that supports your lower back area while maintaining a natural posture. The seat or chair you select should also promote comfortable leg positioning. The same principle applies to maintaining a relaxing arm and shoulder position as well as your wrists and fingers. The best way to determine proper positioning is to sit in the area where you wish to play your games and just play around with pillows and other supports until you are satisfied. Only then can you start playing your games. Repetitive motions can also cause pain. Resting your wrists on a surface and using your thumb and fingers to manipulate your Xbox controller can become a problem. Getting totally involved in a game and using forceful movements like pushing your controller buttons harder than necessary can also be troublesome. What it all boils down to is taking frequent breaks to stretch your body and maintain relaxation in your limbs. Being totally involved in a game, you can ignore those warning signs of stiffness and pain. You have to consciously make an effort to get up and walk around. Stretch your arms and legs. Stretch your fingers and wrists. Do some neck exercises to loosen up tight muscles. All of these things will
certainly stave off most serious conditions having to do with your musculoskeletal system. A final thing that you can do to ensure a healthy, happy body is eating right and getting enough rest and sleep. Keep in mind that it will not be any one thing that you do to prevent any injuries. It will be a combination of different activities that will protect your health and body. After all, you have got to stay in fighting shape for your next Xbox game showdown with your friends.