Correlation of Smartphone addiction with cervical muscle strength and joint proprioception in adolescents

Abstract

Background: Smartphone have undeniably revolutionized our lives, there is growing concern regarding the addictive nature of these devices and the subsequent negative impacts on individuals and society.

Objective: To determine the correlation of smart phone addiction with cervical flexors strength and joint proprioception among adolescents, to determine the frequency of joint position error and to assess the influence of excessive Smartphone usage on the muscles responsible for cervical flexion among adolescents.

Methodology: A cross sectional survey was conducted on 377 students from various schools of Islamabad and Rawalpindi. Students of both genders with age ranged from 12-18 years having a history of Smartphone addiction for more than 4 hours were included in the study. Whereas exclusion criteria was children with special needs, history of cervical trauma within a year, motor problem in upper extremity and vestibular pathologies and dizziness. Smartphone addiction scale short version was used to determine the addiction among participants. Cervical joint position error (CJPE) was performed to assess the cervical joint proprioception and strength of the cervical flexors muscles was evaluated by manual muscle testing (MMT) procedure. Data was analyzed using SPSS version-23.

Results: Total 377 participants were included, out of which 184 (48.8%) were males and 193 (51.2%) were females. Mean value of Smart Phone Addiction Scale-Short version was 40.33 ±7.95. Correlation between Smart phone addiction and Joint position error was weak and non-significant. Correlation between Smart phone addiction and muscles of cervical region demonstrated that Sternocleidomastoid has a weak but significant (P-value 0.018) correlation (R-value 0.121) with smartphone usage, and remaining exhibited non-significant and very weak correlation.

Conclusion: This study concluded that majority of the students had smart phone addiction leading to highest cervical joint position error in Right rotation and right-side bending. Whereas, non-significant weak correlations were observed between smartphone usage on cervical muscle strength and joint proprioception.

Keywords: Adolescents, addiction, muscle strength, proprioception, smartphone