Your next form of exercise? How about an adventure to Mount Everest to capture the legendary pokémon Articuno? Just kidding. Pokémon Go has taken the world by storm, captivating fans of all ages. One huge aspect has changed since past Pokemon games. To “catch ‘em all,” players need to go outside to do the hunting themselves and become pokémon trainers. For example, different types of pokémon will appear at a waterfront, or at a park. In-game aspects such as pokéstops require players to physically move to them on the map if they wish to catch diverse pokémons and pick up items like pokéballs that will help them play the game. In addition, in-game pokémon eggs will only hatch if one walks the indicated distance. As a result, players are being compelled to get off the couch and go on pokémon hunting journeys. Pokémon Go addictions are hitting the roof with some players staying up all night to catch nocturnal pokémon and drivers stopping in the middle of a highway to catch one nearby.
So far, Pokémon Go boasts a positive side effect for users: a major increase in daily physical activity levels. Many people who were inactive and lacked physical activity are now finding themselves walking for hours everyday to search for new pokémon. Many people are reacting through social media, changing their exercise programs to the so-called “pokemon go workout.” For example, Patrick Allan from lifehacker.com invented a Pokémon Go interval training workout, that works by sprinting in between pokéstops and resting when one gets there to collect items. Then, he mixes in a strength training component according to the item that he picks up. For example, if he receives regular pokéballs, he does 5 squats. If the item is a revive or a potion, he does 10 pushups. It’s a really creative way to combine the benefits of exercising and being able to play the game at the same time.
Allan, Patrick. 2016. Squirtle working on his four pack. Retrieved from: http://lifehacker.com/the-pokemon-go-interval-training-workout-1783487992
On the social media outlet Imgur, a player by the username of Hypnochanger shared a post with a screenshot of earning a medal for walking 10km in the game. Hypnochanger explains further that he is a “bit overweight, something in the 500 pound range.” Another user commented on his post with, “close to 300 pounds. Went out for the first time in over a year today and just walked around town. Good luck bro.” Pokémon Go is fuelling players to move around, without them even noticing. Many other social media updates constantly boast about walking more than 8,000 steps a day or getting more physical activity in one day than the entire month combined.
Many of our own staff at Burquitlam Physiotherapy have responded to the pokémon phenomenon. When asked about the game, our head physiotherapist Dr. Waymen Wong replied with, “the kids and I are going hunting this afternoon.” Jonathan Lui, staff physiotherapist responded, “yea man, it’s fun. It’s different from the past games; you get to actually throw pokéballs.” Pokémon Go is a great way to get active, and increase your daily physical activity. Pokémon Go is averaging more than 500,000 downloads daily, and perhaps this form of getting physical activity through mobile gaming may be one of the creative solutions to the growing metabolic syndrome. The hype will reduce at some point, but for now, it is guaranteed that you will come across trainers at your neighbourhood park. Nonetheless, be careful to not to play the game while driving!
If you want to ask a physio about absolutely anything, please email us at askburquitlampt@gmail.com!
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