Does smartphone addiction affect cervical mobility, head posture, body awareness and pain pressure threshold?

Year 2025, Volume: 8 Issue: 1, 57 - 62, 12.01.2025

Nagihan Acet , Sena Beğen , Murat Esmer

https://doi.org/10.32322/jhsm.1557372

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

Akıllı telefon bağımlılığı boyun hareketliliğini, baş duruşunu, vücut farkındalığını ve ağrı basınç eşiğini etkiliyor mu?

Abstract

Amaçlar: Teknolojinin hızla gelişmesiyle birlikte, akıllı telefonların artan kullanımı, servikal omurga ve vücut farkındalığı üzerindeki çok yönlü etkileri nedeniyle endişe konusu haline gelmiştir. Mevcut çalışma, akıllı telefon bağımlılığının genel servikal/izole üst servikal hareketlilik, vücut farkındalığı, baş duruşu ve servikal ağrı basınç eşiği (PPT) üzerindeki etkilerini araştırmaktadır.
Yöntemler: Bu prospektif ve kesitsel çalışma, günlük akıllı telefon kullanımına göre ağır kullanıcılar ve hafif kullanıcılar olarak kategorize edilen 108 katılımcı üzerinde yürütülmüştür. Genel servikal/izole üst servikal hareketlilik (sağ ve sol rotasyon), vücut farkındalığı, baş duruşu ve PPT (üst trapezius kasının orta noktası ve C2 spinöz çıkıntısının 2 cm lateralinde) sırasıyla Servikal Hareket Aralığı Cihazı (CROM), Vücut Farkındalığı Anketi, kraniovertebral açı ve bir algometre kullanılarak değerlendirilmiştir. Servikal hareketlilik, baş duruşu, vücut farkındalığı ve ağrı basınç eşiğinin gruplar arasında karşılaştırılması Bağımsız örnekler T testi kullanılarak yapılmıştır.
Sonuçlar: Sonuçlar, akıllı telefon bağımlılığının izole üst servikal hareketliliği sağ ve sol rotasyon (p<0,001), baş duruşu (her iki yön için p<0,001) ve vücut farkındalığı (p=0,035) yönlerinde önemli ölçüde etkilediğini, ancak sağ ve sol rotasyon (p=0,847, p=0,848) veya iki farklı noktada değerlendirilen PPT (p=0,165, p=0,213) açısından genel servikal hareketlilik üzerinde önemli bir etkisi olmadığını gösterdi.
Sonuç: Bu çalışma, ağrı basınç eşiği ve genel servikal hareketlilikten bağımsız olarak akıllı telefon aşırı kullanımının üst servikal hareketlilik, baş duruşu ve vücut farkındalığı üzerindeki klinik etkilerini vurgulamaktadır. Klinisyenler, erken müdahalenin uzun vadeli işlev bozukluğunu ve sensörimotor bozuklukları önlemeye yardımcı olabileceği için akıllı telefon bağımlılığı olan bireylerde bu faktörleri değerlendirmelidir.

Keywords

Akıllı telefon, boyun omurları, hareket aralığı, ağrı, duruş

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