JHSM
Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine

Journal of Health Sciences and Medicine (JHSM) is an unbiased, peer-reviewed, and open access international medical journal. The Journal publishes interesting clinical and experimental research conducted in all fields of medicine, interesting case reports, and clinical images, invited reviews, editorials, letters, comments, and related knowledge.

ISSN: Active
eISSN: 2636-8579
Creative Commons CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 International License.
EndNote Style

Submit Manuscript

Index
Original Article
Does smartphone addiction affect cervical mobility, head posture, body awareness and pain pressure threshold?
Abstract
Aims: With the rapid development of technology, the increasing use of smartphones has become a subject of concern due to its multifaceted effects on the cervical spine and body awareness. The present study investigates effects of smartphone addiction on general cervical/isolated upper cervical mobility, body awareness, head posture, and cervical pain pressure threshold (PPT).
Methods: This prospective and cross-sectional study was conducted on 108 participants, categorized as heavy users and light users based on daily smartphone use. General cervical / isolated upper cervical mobility (right and left rotation), body awareness, head posture, and PPT (midpoint of the upper trapezius muscle, and 2 cm lateral to the C2 spinous process) were assessed using the Cervical Range of Motion Device (CROM), the Body Awareness Questionnaire, craniovertebral angle, and an algometer, respectively. The comparison of cervical mobility, head posture, body awareness, and pain pressure threshold between the groups was performed using the Independent samples T test.
Results: The results showed that smartphone addiction significantly affects isolated upper cervical mobility in the directions of right and left rotation (p<0.001), head posture (p<0.001 for both directions), and body awareness (p=0.035), but has no significant impact on general cervical mobility in terms of right and left rotation (p=0.847, p=0.848) or PPT assessed at two different points (p=0.165, p=0.213), respectively.
Conclusion: This study highlights the clinical implications of smartphone overuse on upper cervical mobility, head posture, and body awareness, independent of pain pressure threshold and general cervical mobility. Clinicians should assess these factors in individuals with smartphone addiction, as early intervention may help prevent long-term dysfunction and sensorimotor disturbances.

Keywords : Smartphone, cervical vertebrae, range of motion, pain, posture

Download Article


1. Eltayeb S, Staal JB, Hassan A, De Bie RA. Work related risk factors for neck, shoulder and arms complaints: a cohort study among Dutch computer office workers. J Occup Rehabil. 2009; 19(4):315-322.
2. Larsson B, S&oslash;gaard K, Rosendal L. Work related neckshoulder pain: a review on magnitude, risk factors, biochemical characteristics, clinical picture and preventive interventions. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 2007;21(3):447-463.
3. Straker L, Burgess-Limerick R, Pollock C, Coleman J, Skoss R, Maslen B. Children&rsquo;s posture and muscle activity at different computer display heights and during paper information technology use. Human Factors. 2008;50(1):49-61.
4. Sarraf F, Varmazyar S. Comparing the effect of the posture of using smartphones on head and neck angles among college students. Ergonomics. 2022;65(12):1631-1638.
5. Torkamani MH, Mokhtarinia HR, Vahedi M, Gabel CP. Relationships between cervical sagittal posture, muscle endurance, joint position sense, range of motion and level of smartphone addiction. BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. 2023; 24(1):61.
6. Kang J-H, Park R-Y, Lee S-J, Kim J-Y, Yoon S-R, Jung K-I. The effect of the forward head posture on postural balance in long time computer based worker. Ann Rehabil Med. 2012;36(1):98-104.
7. AlZarea BK, Patil SR. Mobile phone head and neck pain syndrome: proposal of a new entity. Headache. 2015;251(63):313-317.
8. Jung SI, Lee NK, Kang KW, Kim K, Do YL. The effect of smartphone usage time on posture and respiratory function. J Phys Ther Sci. 2016;28(1):186-189.
9. Niewiadomski C, Bianco RJ, Afquir S, Evin M, Arnoux PJ. Experimental assessment of cervical ranges of motion and compensatory strategies.Chiropr Man Therap. 2019;27:9.
10. Braun BL, Amundson LR. Quantitative assessment of head and shoulder posture. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1989;70(4):322-329.
11. Hanten WP, Lucio RM, Russell JL, Brunt D. Assessment of total head excursion and resting head posture. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 1991;72(11):877-880.
12. Neumann DA. Kinesiology of the musculoskeletal system. St Louis: Mosby. 2002:25-40.
13. Humphreys BK. Cervical outcome measures: testing for postural stability and balance.J Manipulative Physiol Ther. 2008;31(7): 540-546.
14. Kulkarni V, Chandy M, Babu K. Quantitative study of muscle spindles in suboccipital muscles of human foetuses. Neurology India. 2001;49(4):355-359.
15. Gaerlan MG, Alpert PT, Cross C, Louis M, Kowalski S. Postural balance in young adults: the role of visual, vestibular and somatosensory systems. J Am Assoc Nurse Pract. 2012;24(6):375-381.
16. Corneil BD, Olivier E, Munoz DP. Neck muscle responses to stimulation of monkey superior colliculus. I. Topography and manipulation of stimulation parameters. J Neurophysiol. 2002; 88(4):1980-1999.
17. Wannaprom N, Treleaven J, Jull G, Uthaikhup S. Neck muscle vibration produces diverse responses in balance and gait speed between individuals with and without neck pain. Musculoskelet Sci Pract. 2018;35:25-29.
18. Berlucchi G, Aglioti SM. The body in the brain revisited. Exp Brain Res. 2010;200(1):25-35.
19. Cuschieri S. The STROBE guidelines. Saudi J Anaesth. 2019; 13(Suppl 1):S31-S34.
20. Alshahrani A, Aly SM, Abdrabo MS, Asiri FY. Impact of smartphone usage on cervical proprioception and balance in healthy adults. Biomed Res. 2018;29(12):2547-2552.
21. Shields SA, Mallory ME, Simon A. The body awareness questionnaire: reliability and validity. J Personal Ass. 1989;53(4): 802-815.
22. Karaca S, Bayar B. Turkish version of body awareness questionnaire: validity and reliability study. Turk J physiother Rehabil. 2021;32(1):44-50.
23. Ruivo RM, Pezarat-Correia P, Carita AI. Cervical and shoulder postural assessment of adolescents between 15 and 17 years old and association with upper quadrant pain. Braz J Phys Ther. 2014;18(4):364-371.
24. Guan X, Fan G, Chen Z, et al. Gender difference in mobile phone use and the impact of digital device exposure on neck posture. Ergonomics. 2016;59(11):1453-1461.
25. Ylinen J, Takala E-P, Kautiainen H, et al. Effect of long-term neck muscle training on pressure pain threshold: a randomized controlled trial. Eur J Pain. 2005;9(6):673-681.
26. Law EYH, Chiu TT-W. Measurement of cervical range of motion (CROM) by electronic CROM goniometer: a test of reliability and validity. J Back Musculoskelet Rehabil. 2013;26(2):141-148.
27. Wiguna NP, Wahyuni N, Indrayani AW, Wibawa A, Thanaya SAP. The relationship between smartphone addiction and forward head posture in junior high school students in north Denpasar. Jurnal Epidemiol Kesehat Komunit. 2019;4(2):84-89.
28. Akodu AK, Akinbo SR, Young QO. Correlation among smartphone addiction, craniovertebral angle, scapular dyskinesis, and selected anthropometric variables in physiotherapy undergraduates. J Taibah Uni Med Sci. 2018;13(6): 528-534.
29. Shinde K, Mahajan P, Mitra M. Evaluation of mobile phone addiction scale score and its correlation with craniovertebral angle and neck disability in young adults-a cross-sectional analytical study. Int J Allied Med Sci Clin Res. 2019.
30. K&ouml;se E, Baylan H, Karahan H, Ekerbi&ccedil;er H. The distribution and the related factors of forward head posture among medical students. Konuralp Med J. 2022;14(2):304-308.
31. Erğun Keşli E, G&uuml;&ccedil;l&uuml; B, &Ouml;zden F, Dilek B. Investigation of grip strength, pain threshold, pain tolerance and function in smartphone users. Somatosensory Motor Res. 2023;40(3):103-109.
Article available in :
Volume 8, Issue 1, 2025
Page : 57-62
https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1557372
Article Information
Received : 27 Eyl 2024
Accepted : 30 Kas 2024
Published : 12 Oca 2025
Corresponding Author :

Murat Esmer: Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Faculty of Health Sciences, Gazi University, Ankara, Turkiye

[email protected]
Citation : Acet N, Beğen S, Esmer M. Does smartphone addiction affect cervical mobility, head posture, body awareness and pain pressure threshold? J Health Sci Med. 2025;8(1):57-62.

Read: 2
Cited: 0
Download : 0
_Footer