Health Benefits Of Pokemon Go

As a research from Texas A&M University stated, “Real-life positive health consequences of playing Pokémon Go - a new GPS-based augmented reality game - are being realized across the nation” ("Health Benefits of Pokémon Go"). Pokemon Go launched in the United States during the summer of 2016. In the game, players use the global positioning system (GPS) on their smartphone technology, in order “to locate, capture, battle, and train virtual creatures” (Grover). As a result, this game forces players to go outside and be more active, instead of playing a game inside their home, and to discover the “real” world in a different perspective. Ever since the launch of Pokémon Go, the game has greatly enhanced the health of its players. Some possible …show more content…
One way that the game does this is by rewarding their gamers. When players do leave the house to play the game, they are encouraged to walk more. Their Pokemon eggs hatch based on the distance that they have conquered. The three differing distances are 2km, 5km, and 10km. The higher the distance, the more likely it is for the egg to hatch a rare Pokemon (Rao). As a result, their behavior of playing the game is positively reinforced, making gamers want to continue playing the game. When gamers have fulfilled this need to play the game, they are happier. Medically speaking, playing the game increases the happy hormones in their body, which is serotonin. It’s believed that low serotonin levels are responsible for depression and anxiety (Nall). This is the explanation behind one player who exclaimed that, “Pokemon Go has already been a better treatment for my depression than anything my doctor prescribed or therapist recommended” (Macdonald). Studies have also shown that Pokemon Go players are happier because they often walk around outdoors. The gamers find Pokemon in the virtual game near trees or water “in real life.” Nall, a registered nurse from Healthline, stated that “30 minutes of exposure to nature can benefit mental health. This type of therapy is called sun bathing, which can be medically proven to work (Nall). Vitamin D from the sun isn’t just for bone healthy. It is also an …show more content…
Patients in hospitals, ranging from children to teens and seniors have all participated in playing Pokemon Go. It is another form of nontraditional therapy which was quickly accepted like the Nintendo Wii. Occupational therapists have approved it because it improves “ambulation, standing balance, standing tolerance, hand-eye coordination, problem solving, impulse control, and fine motor skills” (Turbin). In this way, patients almost immediately forget that they are actually doing rehabilitation. Instead, they think of it purely as a game and successfully exceed their daily recommended exercise. Pokemon Go has even encouraged some athletes to exercise more. In one article, a mother expressed her frustration towards her daughter’s lack of exercise during off-seasons. She said that, “As much as I tried to convince Grace that she should be training more during the summer for the upcoming cross-country and basketball seasons, she was more inclined to sleep in and lounge on the couch during the days and times when she didn 't have practice” (Pannoni). This is a concern because athletes who suddenly stop exercising are more prone to injury and deconditioning. “The fitter you are, the faster you tend to lose the benefits of exercise, even if your baseline fitness remains better than average” (Cane). This means that an athlete’s body degrades at a much faster rate than a