Acute High-Intensity Interval Training Improves Esport Performance in Super Smash Brothers Ultimate Competitors

Abstract

Acute exercise has been shown to improve scores on tests of cognitive function. The cognitive variables that improve with acute exercise are also associated with esport performance. This randomized control trial examined whether performing a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) exercise bout prior to esport competitions produced improvement in Super Smash Brothers Ultimate performance compared with the control group of college-aged e-athletes who did not perform a precompetition HIIT session (n = 28). Both competitions consisted of a round-robin style of play wherein all players in each group faced each other in head-on sets. Competition results after sedentary and after HIIT exercise were compared. Logistic regression indicated that HIIT increased the probability of winning a Super Smash Brothers Ultimate set by approximately twofold (p = .006). These data suggest that HIIT acutely improves esport performance.