Text Neck Syndrome and Postural Disorders Among Dental and Engineering Undergraduates: A Cross-sectional Study with Smartphone-Based Exercise Intervention

Smartphones have become an essential part of student life for studying, chatting, or entertainment. But spending long hours looking down at screens can strain the neck and upper back. This problem, known as Text Neck Syndrome, happens when the head is bent forward for long periods, putting extra pressure on the spine. It can cause pain, stiffness, and bad posture if ignored. This study looks at how common neck and posture problems are among dental and engineering students. Dental students often work with their heads bent forward during clinical work, while engineering students spend long hours using computers. Both groups are at risk of developing text neck. The research will include students aged 18 to 24 from a dental college and an engineering college on the same campus. First, all participants will answer simple questionnaires about neck pain, screen use, and daily habits. Photos of their neck posture will also be taken to see how far the head bends forward. A smaller group of students will then take part in a four week program using free mobile apps that send posture reminders and teach short stretching exercises. These students will be compared with others who don’t use the app to see if it really helps reduce pain and improve posture. By the end of the study, the team hopes to find out how common text neck is among students, how it is linked to phone use, and whether simple smartphone-based exercises can make a difference. The goal is to raise awareness and encourage better habits among young people who spend long hours on screens, helping prevent long-term neck and posture problems.