Correlation Between Smartphone Use and Text Neck Posture in Asymptomatic Subjects

Completed

• Conditions: Text Neck Posture; Smartphone Addiction

• Registration Number: NCT06509035
• Lead Sponsor: Cairo University

Brief Summary

This study will be conducted to investigate the correlation between the number of hours of smartphone usage and severity of text neck posture, cervical ROM, DNF endurance and resting head posture among asymptomatic 18 to 25 years old adults

Detailed Description

Smartphone use has increased significantly globally, with 79% of adults aged 18-44 carrying a smartphone constantly. This can cause excessive anterior curves in the neck vertebrae and increase the mechanical load on cervical spine joints. Overuse syndrome, spinal damage, and other side effects can result. This study aims to investigate the correlation between time spent using smartphones and text neck posture and its association with head and neck posture, cervical ROM, and DNF endurance among asymptomatic 18-25-year-olds.

Basic Information
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Recruitment & Eligibility
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Study & Design
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Trial Locations

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2023-07-01
• Primary Completion: 2023-12-01
• Study Completion: 2024-06-01
• Status Verified: 2024-07
• Study First Submitted: 2024-07-02
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-07-12
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-07-12
• Study First Posted: 2024-07-19
• Last Update Posted: 2024-07-19

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 30

Inclusion Criteria

1. Individuals who are willing to participate at the time of data collection.
2. Individuals aged 18 - 25 years old.
3. Individuals who use a smartphone to report the duration of weekly usage (at least one year of using a smartphone and minimum duration of smartphone use of ≥1 h per day

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Exclusion Criteria

1. Previous history of an accident or severe injury.
2. Any neurological or cardiovascular problem.
3. Spinal surgery or any disease that prevents the individual from adopting an unsupported orthostatic posture.
4. Congenital cervical problem.
5. Pregnant women.

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Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Assessing the average duration of smartphone screen time	at baseline	A mobile application called Screen Time Restrain Yourself measures smartphone usage in hours over the past week, allowing users to monitor their daily usage without disrupting normal smartphone use.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Assessment of head and neck posture	at baseline	Photogrammetry is a reliable method for measuring head and cervical spine postures. It involves taking sagittal photographs of the subject's head tilt angle and neck tilt angle. A camera is positioned at a height corresponding to the seventh cervical vertebra (C7) level, and spherical markers are attached to the right tragus, canthus, and spinal process. The subject is instructed to sit on a chair, maintain a resting head posture, and perform full flexion and extension three times. The average of angles from repeated photos is used to reduce bias. Fatigue time is reported after ten minutes of use with a smartphone.
Assessment of deep neck flexor endurance	at baseline	The Neck Flexor Muscle Endurance Test (NFMET) involves a subject supine, with hands resting on the abdomen and feet flat on a plinth. The subject performs chin retraction, head and neck lift, and skin folds. The test measures muscle endurance, with males having a longer average hold time than females.
Assessment of cervical range of motion	at baseline	Cervical ROM is measured using a universal goniometer, with subjects placed flat on the floor and supported on a lap. They move their head in flexion and extension, with the goniometer placed over the external auditory meatus, fixed arm perpendicular to the floor, and movable arm with the nose base. For cervical rotation, they turn the head to the left or right side, and for lateral flexion, they touch the ear to a shoulder of the same side. The goniometer is a valid and reliable tool for measuring cervical ROM, with good interrater and intraterrater reliability.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

Misr University for Science and Technology; 🇪🇬 Giza, Egypt