video games and muscle growth page

[dado]

I've often wondered if playing video games would interfere with muscle growth.

Does intellectually taxing work, like intense, competitive multiplayer gaming, interfere with the body's ability to adapt to lifting heavy loads? Would it suck brain energy away from adapting to physical training or are the two unrelated?

[chima_p]

I would say the "stress" could effect muscle recovery for sure.

I would guess that going to bed every night at 3:00am with adrenalin and cortisol coursing through your veins, muscle recovery would be hamperred and growth nearly ziltch. Maybe it would not be as bad at the age of 16 than at the age of 36 though.

[Primal Fist]

I'm sure you're not being entirely serious. If you are, read up on exercise science! Anyway, play as many games as you like, obviously. It doesn't suck away energy nor does it cause a significant stress to your body. Chima_p is right though, all-nighter COD sessions will bugger you up rapidly.

[dado]

Yea, maybe I should read up on that exercise science.

I don't game to excess nor do I stay up late, but I do wonder if putting my gaming on hold while I am training would be beneficial.

[Glockin Grok]

Ahhhh COD... great way to destress after a long day if you ask me.

[Coach Palfrey]

Gamers aren't exactly known for their athleticism - that's some pretty strong empirical evidence.

[Doddibot]

Gaming should be better than most activities involving sitting down and staring at a screen for hours. It's more fun than work, and usually less stressful too.

Plenty of people have managed to bulk up while also doing very mentally challenging jobs. There's nothing to worry about in that respect.

[Xibit]

Gamers aren't exactly known for their athleticism - that's some pretty strong empirical evidence.

That has nothing to do with the act of playing a game, and everything to do with the lifestyle that usually accompanies being a gamer.

That said... being active and working out, then sitting down for a couple hours to play a game isn't good for you. It causes the hip flexors and lower back to recover in the seated position, which goes against the whole point of working on those musles. So just stand up when you play games and you'll be fine.

[Pandadude]

That said... being active and working out, then sitting down for a couple hours to play a game isn't good for you. It causes the hip flexors and lower back to recover in the seated position, which goes against the whole point of working on those musles. So just stand up when you play games and you'll be fine.

Source? Never heard of this before but it doesn't sound nonsensical.

[norak]

World of Warcraft has been known to inhibit muscle growth, seeing as it can be quite addictive and thus preventing the player from actually going to the gym (speaking from experience)...