REVIEW ARTICLE
IMPACT OF SMARTPHONE USAGE ON CERVICAL SPINE PAIN COMPLAINTS
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1
Student Scientific Association in the Department of Spine Disorders and Pediatric Orthopedics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
2
Department of Spine Disorders and Pediatric Orthopedics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
Submission date: 2025-02-06
Final revision date: 2025-03-11
Acceptance date: 2025-05-11
Publication date: 2025-11-26
Corresponding author
Marta Wiśniewska
Student Scientific Association in the Department of Spine Disorders and Pediatric Orthopedics, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poznan, Poland
Issue Rehabil. Orthop. Neurophysiol. Sport Promot. 2024;49(4):15-22
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ABSTRACT
Introduction
Mobile phones have become integral to daily life, increasing screen time and contributing to cervical spine pain, possibly due to non-ergonomic posture during smartphone use.
Aim
The study aimed to examine the relationship between cervical spine pain and phone usage time, considering respondents' physical activity levels.
Materials and Methods
The survey included 70 respondents (average age 22.4 years). The questions concerned their occupation, cervical spine pain occurrence and intensity (Numerical Rating Scale), physical activity duration and intensity (Modified Borg Rating of Perceived Exertion). Additionally, respondents completed the Neck Disability Index and reported the daily phone usage over the past 14 days according to smartphone system data.
Results
70% of the respondents reported cervical spine pain (average intensity 3.6). Participants used their phones for 5 hours daily on average. 85.7% of the respondents were physicaly activie for 4.6 hours weekly on average, with an average intensity of 2.8. The average Neck Disability Index score was 6.1. No correlation was found between the pain intensity and the phone usage, nor between physical activity duration and intensity. No correlation was found between the Neck Disability Index score and phone usage or physical activity duration and intensity.
Conclusion
Cervical spine pain affects many young people. No relationship was found between phone usage time and pain intensity, but a tendency for longer smartphone usage was observed among individuals with higher Neck Disability Index scores. No impact of physical activity on pain was found. Further studies are needed on a larger group, considering additional factors.