COMPREHENSIVE PHYSICAL REHABILITATION AND PREVENTION OF MUSCULOSKELETAL DISORDERS IN HIGH-PERFORMANCE CHESS PLAYERS

Abstract

Modern chess is characterized by the extreme intensification of competitive activity. Contrary to popular belief, elite chess players are subjected to pronounced pathobiomechanical stress. Prolonged (up to 6–8 hours) maintenance of a static, asymmetrical sitting posture, combined with psycho-emotional stress and sedentary behavior, triggers the development of persistent muscle-tonic and myofascial pain syndromes. The most vulnerable segments of the musculoskeletal system (MSS) in this cohort are the cervical-thoracic spine ("text neck" syndrome, hyperkyphosis) and the distal parts of the upper extremities (compression-ischemic neuropathies). This not only reduces the athletes' quality of life but also impairs cerebral hemodynamics, directly limiting cognitive functions during the late stages of matches. However, chess-specific rehabilitation protocols remain insufficiently addressed in the literature