One might assume that plunking down in front of a gaming console has nothing to do with getting exercise — and you’d be right. But scientists say actually getting exercise can help you play.
Researchers conducted a study of nearly 80 gamers from all over the world, both chess players and video game players, and found that those who exercised 150 minutes a week performed better than those who didn’t. In fact, they found their minds were “significantly sharpened” by the activity.
In fact, the players’ international gaming rankings improved by 75%, while confidence levels in the mind gamers’ group — e.g. chess players — increased by 44%.
What’s more, the study showed all the players saw their concentration jumped by 33%.
What’s more, their anxiety levels dropped 43%.
The study was commissioned by sports brand ASICS, and Andrew Kastor developed a training program for the normally sedentary players.
“Many of the gamers couldn’t jog for longer than a minute at the start of the study, so their training programs had to be moderate,” he explained in a press release. “One hundred and fifty minutes a week sounds [like] a lot but when you break it down this could be five sets of 30 minutes.”
He called the results astonishing and said they “speak to the power of exercise.” He added, “No matter your fitness levels, the mental benefits of exercise are accessible to all.”