Overview
What are esports?
Esports, or competitive video gaming, are a fast-growing international phenomenon where competitors from different leagues or teams face off in the same games that you may play on your mobile device or video game system at home. These competitors are known as esports athletes. At Cleveland Clinic Sports Health, our Esports Medicine program refers to esports athletes as neurocognitive athletes.
Why choose our Esports Medicine program?
The Cleveland Clinic Esports Medicine program provides expertise in the comprehensive care of individuals participating in competitive video gaming. As with traditional athletes, esports athletes have unique sport-specific training and injury prevention needs. Our Esports Medicine team is primarily focused on the treatment and prevention of esports related injuries, as well as a commitment to protecting and enhancing the health, safety and welfare of all esports athletes.
Our Services
Our Esports Medicine team has a unique skill set and comprehensive background to provide esports athletes with cutting edge performance enhancement and injury prevention strategies. We are utilizing cutting edge proprietary neuro-cognitive assessment hardware and software to assist in the performance enhancement, and we have outlined appropriate ergonomic, training and fitness recommendations including:
- Prevention, evaluation and management of esports related injuries
- Esports athlete neurocognitive assessment and analysis
- Gaming ergonomic evaluations (chair, desk, monitor, keyboard, mouse)
- Esports athlete nutrition, exercise, strength and conditioning education
- Esports stretches and training recommendations
- Esports vision screening and vision training
- Esports psychology and team dynamics
- Guidelines and education regarding banned substances in esports
Our Team
Our Esports Medicine Team
Dominic King, DO
Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine Physician
Director, Esports Medicine Program
Mark Schickendantz, MD
Cleveland Clinic Sports Medicine Orthopaedic Surgeon
Director, Cleveland Clinic Sports Health Center
Gary Calabrese, DPT
Senior Director, Rehabilitation and Sports Therapy
Esports Injury Prevention Specialist
Jason Cruickshank, ATC, CSCS
Cleveland Clinic Athletic Trainer
Esports Neurocognitive / Strength and Conditioning Specialist
David Graygo, MPT
Cleveland Clinic Manual Physical Therapist
Esports Ergonomic Specialist
Diane Tucker, OD
Cleveland Clinic Optometrist
Esports Vision Specialist
Katherine Patton, RD
Cleveland Clinic Registered Dietician
Esports Nutrition Specialist
Matthew Sacco, PhD
Cleveland Clinic Psychologist
Esports Psychology Specialist
Mark Schauer, MBA
Cleveland Clinic Sports Health Administrator
Teams We Work With
Cleveland Clinic's Esports Program is currently partnered with:
Exciting partnerships with additional collegiate and professional esports teams will be announced soon.
Resources
Patient Resources
- Read an article from Cleveland Clinic's Health Essentials: What you need to know about gaming injuries
- Watch ABC News, Channel 5, Cleveland Report: Esports and Esports Medicine
Resources for Medical Professionals
- Read an article from Cleveland Clinic's Consult QD: Sports Medicine Enters the Field of Competitive Gaming
- Esports medicine presentations:
- 2019 Warthog Conference, “Esports Medicine”, D. King
- 2019 Apollo Conference, “Esports Medicine”, D. King
Research & Innovations
Esports Medicine Innovation and Research Group
The Cleveland Clinic Esports Medicine Innovation and Research Group is a collaborative consortium focused on clinical research of esports athletes along with developing new technologies to assess and enhance the unique skills of esports athletes and help to decrease injuries related to competitive gaming We are currently completing several IRB approved research studies to better understand the demographics of esports athletes, the training demands of these athletes, injury rates in esports, how to assess and enhance their neurocognitive performance and better outline the individualized needs of the esports athlete.
If you or your company are interested in meeting with the Cleveland Clinic Esports Medicine Innovation and Research Group to discuss a potential research project or a potential joint development partnership, please contact us at esports@ccf.org.
Appointments
Appointments
Esports athletes interested in being seen in Esports Medicine Program may call 216.518.3475 to arrange for an appointment.
Location
Cleveland Clinic Sports Health Center
5555 Transportation Blvd.
Garfield Heights, OH 44125
