The Impact of Smartphone Usage Duration on the Grip Strength and Manual Dexterity of Firefighter Candidates

Year 2024, Volume: 7 Issue: 3, 492 - 511, 28.09.2024

Mustafa Karataş

https://doi.org/10.38021/asbid.1509079

Abstract

This study investigated the effects of smartphone usage duration on the grip strength and hand dexterity of firefighter candidates. Participants' smartphone usage duration, grip strength, and manual dexterity measurements were evaluated. A total of 106 firefighter candidates volunteered for the study. Of the participants, 26.4% were female and 73.6% were male. Participants' ages were determined as follows: females, 20 ± 1.38 years; males, 20.1 ± 1.4 years; heights: females, 1.67 ± 0.05 m; males, 1.77 ± 0.05 m; weights: females, 60.29 ± 8.13 kg; males, 74.9 ± 11.9 kg; grip strengths: females, 30.36 ± 4.94 kg; males, 48.34 ± 7.4 kg; manual dexterity: females, 16.41 ± 1.25 sec; males, 16.34 ± 1.48 sec; and smartphone usage hours per week: females, 413.68 ± 97.14 min; males, 385 ± 81.52 min.

SPSS version 23 software was used for data analysis. Data showing normal distribution were analyzed using correlation and regression analyses. A significant negative correlation was found between smartphone usage duration and grip strength in females (r = -0.592, p = 0.001) and similarly in males (r = -0.264, p < 0.02). However, no significant relationship was found between manual dexterity and smartphone usage duration. Prolonged smartphone use adversely affects grip strength in both female and male firefighter candidates, without a significant effect on manual dexterity. These findings indicate the necessity of restricting smartphone use during the training processes of firefighter candidates. Additionally, females were identified to have a disadvantage in grip strength compared to males. It is recommended that these differences be taken into account in the training and evaluation programs for firefighter candidates.

Keywords

Firefighter Candidates, Smartphone Usage Duration, Grip Strength, Manual Dexterity

Akıllı Telefon Kullanım Süresinin İtfaiyeci Adaylarının Kavrama Kuvveti ve El Becerisi Üzerindeki Etkisi

Abstract

Bu çalışma, itfaiyeci adaylarının akıllı telefon kullanım süresinin kavrama kuvveti ve el becerisi üzerindeki etkilerini incelemiştir. Katılımcıların telefon kullanım süresi, kavrama kuvveti ve el becerisi ölçümleri değerlendirilmiştir. Araştırmaya 106 itfaiyeci adayı gönüllü olarak katılmıştır. Çalışmaya katılanların %26,4'ü kadın, %73,6'sı erkektir. Katılımcıların yaş (kadınlarda 20±1,38 yıl erkeklerde 20,1±1,4 yıl), boy (kadınlarda 1,67±0,05 m erkeklerde 1,77±0,05 m), kilo (kadınlarda 60,29±8,13 kg erkeklerde 74,9±11,9 kg), kavrama kuvveti (kadınlarda 30,36±4,94 kg erkeklerde 48,34±7,4 kg), el becerisi (kadınlarda 16,41±1,25 sn erkeklerde 16,34±1,48 sn) ve telefon kullanım süreleri (kadınlarda 413,68±97,14 dk/hafta erkeklerde 385±81,52 dk/hafta) tespit edilmiştir. Elde edilen verilerin analizinde SPSS 23 paket programı kullanılmıştır. Normal dağılım gösteren veriler, korelasyon ve regresyon analizleri ile incelenmiştir. Kadınlarda telefon kullanım süresi ile kavrama kuvveti arasında negatif ve anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmuştur (r=-0,592, p=0,001). Erkeklerde de benzer bir ilişki saptanmıştır (r=-0,264, p<0,02). Ancak, el becerisi ile telefon kullanım süresi arasında anlamlı bir ilişki bulunmamıştır. Uzun süreli akıllı telefon kullanımı hem kadın hem de erkek itfaiyeci adaylarında kavrama kuvvetini olumsuz etkilemektedir. El becerisi üzerinde ise anlamlı bir etkisi bulunmamıştır. Bu bulgular, itfaiyeci adaylarının eğitim süreçlerinde telefon kullanımının sınırlandırılması gerektiğini göstermektedir. Ayrıca, kadınların kavrama kuvveti üzerinde erkeklere kıyasla dezavantajlı olduğu belirlenmiştir. İtfaiyeci adaylarının eğitim ve değerlendirme programlarında bu farklılıkların dikkate alınması önerilmektedir.

Keywords

İtfaiyeci Adayları, Telefon Kullanım Süresi, Kavrama Kuvveti, El Becerisi

References

• Abdelhameed, A. A., ve Abdel-Aziem, A. A. (2016). Exercise training and postural correction improve upper extremity symptoms among touchscreen smartphone users. Hong Kong Physiotherapy Journal, 35, 37-44. https://doi.org/10.1016%2Fj.hkpj.2016.06.001
• Aghanavesi, S., Nyholm, D., Senek, M., Bergquist, F., ve Memedi, M. (2017). A smartphone-based system to quantify dexterity in Parkinson's disease patients. Informatics in Medicine Unlocked, 9, 11-17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.imu.2017.05.005
• Agtuahene, M. A., Quartey, J., ve Kwakye, S. (2023). Influence of hand dominance, gender, and body mass index on hand grip strength. South African Journal of Physiotherapy, 79(1). https://dx.doi.org/10.4102/sajp.v79i1.1923
• Alam, M. M., Ahmad, I., Samad, A., Khan, M. H. H., ve Ali, A. M. (2022). Grip strength and endurance: Influences of anthropometric characteristics, posture, and gender. Muscles, Ligaments and Tendons Journal, 12(2), 214-220. http://www.mltj.online/wp-content/uploads/2022/05/Mukhtar-Alam.pdf
• Almashaqbeh, S. F. (2022). The effect of gender and arm anatomical position on the hand grip strength and fatigue resistance during sustained maximal handgrip effort. Journal of Biomedical Physics & Engineering Express, 12(2), 171-180. https://dx.doi.org/10.31661/jbpe.v0i0.2009-1197
• Arora, R. (2017). Exploring Cross-Cultural Differences in Usage of Mobile Phones among University Students in us and India. Adarsh Journal of Management Research, 10(1), 65-79. https://dx.doi.org/10.21095/AJMR/2017/V10/I1/115202
• Ballesta, S. V., Saez, R., Iglesias, J., ve Vernet, A. (2020). Arduino-smartphone device as a physical phenomena measurer. The Physics Teacher, 58(9), 663-665. https://dx.doi.org/10.1119/10.0002737
• Barot, D. N., ve Patel, A. M. (2023). Correlation Between Smartphone Addiction and Physical Activity Among College Students Across Ahmedabad City. International Journal of Health Sciences and Research, 13(7), 35-39. https://dx.doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20230705
• Bashir, U., Noor, R., Shoukat, H., Ali, M., Javed, M., ve Hassan, Z. (2023). Correlation of mobile phone usage on grip strength, disabilities and posture in young adults. The Rehabilitation Journal, 7(1), 495-498. https://doi.org/10.52567/trj.v7i01.210.
• Beri, S., ve Grover, B. (2023). Understanding the gender differences in hand grip strength of patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) compared to subjects without T2DM in clinic settings. Indian Journal of Applied Research, 11(1), 392-397. https://dx.doi.org/10.21474/ijar01/17403
• Bhamra, J. K., Naqvi, W. M., ve Arora, S. P. (2021). Effect of smartphone on hand performance and strength in the healthy population. Cureus, 13(6), e15798. https://doi.org/10.7759%2Fcureus.15798
• Brown, A., Baldwin, S., Blaskovits, B., ve Bennell, C. (2021). Examining the impact of grip strength and officer gender on shooting performance.. Applied Ergonomics, 97, 103536. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.apergo.2021.103536.
• Cha, J. H., Choi, Y.-J., Ryu, S., ve Moon, J.-H. (2023). Association between smartphone usage and health outcomes of adolescents: A propensity analysis using the Korea youth risk behavior survey. PloS one, 18(1), e0294553. https://dx.doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0294553
• Chinwong, D., Sukwuttichai, P., Jaiwong, N., Saenjum, C., Klinjun, N., ve Chinwong, S. (2023). Smartphone Use and Addiction among Pharmacy Students in Northern Thailand: A Cross-Sectional Study. Healthcare, 11(9), 1264. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/healthcare11091264
• Cody, E. Morris, Scott W. Arnett, ve Lee J. Winchester. (2020). Comparing Physical Fitness in Career vs. Volunteer Firefighters. Journal of Strength and Conditioning Research, 34(8), 2183-2188. https://dx.doi.org/10.1519/JSC.0000000000003650
• Durga Haritha, P. V. S. K. N., Rao, K. P., ve Miriam, P. P. (2023). Hand grip strength in young adults: Influence of arm circumference, BMI, gender, and handedness. International Journal of Student Research, 9(2), 57-58. https://dx.doi.org/10.36106/ijsr/2123005
• Ellis, C., ve Bochner, A. (2000). Autoethnography, personal narrative, reflexivity: Researcher as subject. In N. K. Denzin & Y. S. Lincoln (Eds.), Handbook of qualitative research (2nd ed., pp. 733–768). Sage.
• Godwin, S. L., ve Chambers IV, E. (2009). Observational research: A tool for collecting behavioral data and validating surveys. Proceedings of Summer Programme in Sensory Evaluation (SPISE) 2009, 29-36.
• Harkönen, R. Piirtomaa, M. ve Alaranta, H. (1993). Grip strength and hand position of the dynomometer in 204 Finnish adults. J Hand Surg Br. 18(1):129-132. https://doi.org/10.1016/0266-7681(93)90212-x
• Huang, L., Liu, Y., Lin, T., Hou, L., Song, Q., Ge, N., ve Yue, J. (2022). Reliability and validity of two hand dynamometers when used by community-dwelling adults aged over 50 years. BMC geriatrics, 22(1), 580. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-022-03270-6
• İnal, E. E., Demirci, K., Çetintürk, A., Akgönül, M., ve Savaş, S. (2015). Effects of smartphone overuse on hand function, pinch strength, and the median nerve. Muscle & nerve, 52(2), 183-188. https://doi.org/10.1002/mus.24695
• Jang, I., ve Park, S. (2015). Factors Affecting on Smartphone Addiction according to the Classification of Addiction-risk Groups among College Students: A Focus on Self-control. Korean Journal of Adult Nursing, 27(6), 634. http://synapse.koreamed.org/Synapse/Data/PDFData/1094KJAN/kjan-27-634.pdf
• Keşli, E. E, Güçlü, B., Özden, F., ve Dilek, B. (2023). Investigation of grip strength, pain threshold, pain tolerance and function in smartphone users. Somatosensory & Motor Research, 40(3), 103-109. https://doi.org/10.1080/08990220.2023.2186392
• Kim, H.‐N., ve Seo, K. (2019). Smartphone-Based Health Program for Improving Physical Activity and Tackling Obesity for Young Adults: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(1), 15. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17010015
• Kim, J. H., ve Park, G.-R. (2022). Chronic loneliness, gender, and trajectories of change in hand grip strength in older adults. The Gerontologist.78(4), 649-658. https://dx.doi.org/10.1093/geronb/gbac191
• Kim, S. E., Kim, J. W., ve Jee, Y. S. (2015). Relationship between smartphone addiction and physical activity in Chinese international students in Korea. Journal of behavioral addictions, 4(3), 200-205. https://doi.org/10.1556%2F2006.4.2015.028
• Lam, N. W., Goh, H., Kamaruzzaman, S. B., Chin, A. V., Poi, P. J. H., ve Tan, M. P. (2016). Normative data for hand grip strength and key pinch strength, stratified by age and gender for a multiethnic Asian population. Singapore Medical Journal, 57(10), 578-584. http://www.smj.org.sg/sites/default/files/SMJ-57-578.pdf
• Lee, P., Tse, A. C. Y., Wu, C., Mak, Y., ve Lee, U. (2021). Validation of Self-Reported Smartphone Usage Against Objectively-Measured Smartphone Usage in Hong Kong Chinese Adolescents and Young Adults. Psychiatry Investigation, 18(2), 97-105. https://dx.doi.org/10.30773/pi.2020.0197
• Leyk, D., Gorges, W., Ridder, D., Wunderlich, M., Rüther, T., Sievert, A., ve Essfeld, D. (2007). Hand-grip strength of young men, women and highly trained female athletes. European Journal of Applied Physiology, 99, 415-421. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-006-0351-1.
• Li, W., Cui, Y., Gong, Q., ve Zhu, Z. (2022). Association of smartphone use duration with physical fitness among university students: Focus on strength and flexibility. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(12), 7386. https://doi.org/10.3390%2Fijerph19127386
• Lindberg, A. S., Oksa, J., ve Malm, C. (2014). Laboratory or field tests for evaluating firefighters' work capacity?. PloS one, 9(3), e91215. https://doi.org/10.1371%2Fjournal.pone.0091215
• Lockie, R. G., Dulla, J. M., Higuera, D., Ross, K. A., Orr, R. M., Dawes, J. J., ve Ruvalcaba, T. J. (2022). Body composition and fitness characteristics of firefighters participating in a health and wellness program: Relationships and descriptive data. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(23), 15758. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192315758
• Lu, C.-H., Lee, C.-H., Wu, L.-W., Liao, C., Su, S.-C., Liu, J.-S., ... Chang, C.-Y. (2023). Gender-specific impacts of thigh skinfold thickness and grip strength for predicting osteoporosis in type 2 diabetes. Diabetology & Metabolic Syndrome, 15(1), 155. https://dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13098-023-01087-w
• Mathiowetz, V., Weber, K., Kashman, N., ve Volland, G. (1985). Adult norms for the nine hole peg test of finger dexterity. The Occupational Therapy Journal of Research, 5(1), 24-38. http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/153944928500500102
• Radwan, N. L., Ibrahim, M. M., ve Mahmoud, W. S. E. D. (2020). Evaluating hand performance and strength in children with high rates of smartphone usage: an observational study. Journal of physical therapy science, 32(1), 65-71. https://doi.org/10.1589%2Fjpts.32.65
• Matthew L. Sokoloski, B. R. Rigby, G. King, K. Biggerstaff, C. Irvine, A. Bosak, Ryan A. Gordon, Emily L. Zumbro, Cayla E. Clark, Nicole L. Varone, ve Brett W. Crossland. (2023). Muscle Damage, Inflammation, and Muscular Performance following the Physical Ability Test in Professional Firefighters. Sports, 11(8), 144. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/sports11080144
• Naftali, M., ve Findlater, L. (2014, October). Accessibility in context: understanding the truly mobile experience of smartphone users with motor impairments. In Proceedings of the 16th international ACM SIGACCESS conference on Computers & accessibility (pp. 209-216). https://doi.org/10.1145/2661334.2661372
• Nazari, G., MacDermid, J. C., Sinden, K. E., ve Overend, T. J. (2018). The relationship between physical fitness and simulated firefighting task performance. Rehabilitation research and practice, 2018(1), 3234176. https://doi.org/10.1155/2018/3234176
• Nunes, P. P. B., Abdon, A. P. V., Silva, F. V. M., Martins, D., Brito, C. B. D., ve Frota, M. A. (2021). Uso e dependência do smartphone de adolescentes no cenário escolar de tempo integral. Research, Society and Development, 10(7). https://dx.doi.org/10.33448/RSD-V10I7.16098
• Osailan, A. (2021). The relationship between smartphone usage duration (using smartphone’s ability to monitor screen time) with hand-grip and pinch-grip strength among young people: an observational study. BMC musculoskeletal disorders, 22, 1-8. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12891-021-04054-6
• Petrigna, L., Treigienė, M., Thomas, E., Mani, D., Pajaujiene, S., Drid, P., Lavanco, G., Palma, A., ve Bianco, A. (2021). Time spent on the smartphone does not relate to manual dexterity in young adults. BMC Neuroscience, 22, 63. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12868-021-00639-y.
• Pratt, J., De Vito, G., Narici, M., Segurado, R., Dolan, J., Conroy, J., ve Boreham, C. (2021). Grip strength performance from 9431 participants of the GenoFit study: normative data and associated factors. Geroscience, 43(5), 2533-2546. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s11357-021-00410-5
• Precht, L.-M., Mertens, F., Brickau, D. S., Kramm, R. J., Margraf, J., Stirnberg, J., ve Brailovskaia, J. (2023). Engaging in physical activity instead of (over)using the smartphone: An experimental investigation of lifestyle interventions to prevent problematic smartphone use and to promote mental health. Journal of Public Health, Advance online publication, 32, 589–607. https://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s10389-023-01832-5
• Priya, D., ve Subramaniyam, M. (2022). Fatigue due to smartphone use? Investigating research trends and methods for analysing fatigue caused by extensive smartphone usage: A review. Work, 71(4), 955-964. https://dx.doi.org/10.3233/WOR-205351
• Ras, J., Smith, D. L., Soteriades, E. S., Kengne, A. P., ve Leach, L. (2023). Association between physical fitness and cardiovascular health in firefighters. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(11), 5930. https://dx.doi.org/10.3390/ijerph20115930
• Qureshi, K., Thore, P., ve Rajan, S. (2022). Cross-sectional study to analyse the pattern of smartphone usage among adolescents in urban slum of a metropolitan city. International Journal of Community Medicine and Public Health, 9(5), 2208-2213. https://dx.doi.org/10.18203/2394-6040.ijcmph20221242
• Salaria, N. (2012). Meaning of the term descriptive survey research method. International journal of transformations in business management, 1(6), 1-7.
• Schmit, M., ve Debeliso, M. (2019). The relationship between firefighters’ physical performance characteristics and simulated firefighting demands. Turkish Journal of Kinesiology, 5(2), 63-75. https://doi.org/10.31459/turkjkin.560623
• Trewin, S., Swart, C., ve Pettick, D. (2013, October). Physical accessibility of touchscreen smartphones. In Proceedings of the 15th international ACM SIGACCESS conference on computers and accessibility (pp. 1-8). https://doi.org/10.1145/2513383.2513446
• Yükseköğretim Kurulu (YÖK). (2012). Bilimsel Araştırma ve Yayın Etiği Yönergesi. https://ibg.deu.edu.tr/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/yok_yayin_etigi_yonergesi.pdf adresinden 01 Aralık 2023 tarihinde alınmıştır.
• Widjaja, A., Kinandana, G., Indrayani, A., ve Antari, N. (2022). Correlation Between Smartphone Usage Duration And Handgrip Strength In Adolescents Aged 18-24 In Tulungagung. Sport and Fitness Journal, 10(3), 206-214. https://jurnal.harianregional.com/sport/id-86737.
• Williford, H. N., Duey, W. J., Olson, M. S., Howard, R., ve Wang, N. (1999). Relationship between fire fighting suppression tasks and physical fitness. Ergonomics, 42(9), 1179-1186. https://doi.org/10.1080/001401399185063