DefinePK

Abstract

Background: In the contemporary digital era, smartphones have become indispensable tools for communication, education, and entertainment. However, their excessive and prolonged use has given rise to behavioral dependency, particularly among students and young adults who are frequent users. Extended use of smartphones often involves maintaining forward head or flexed neck postures, which may gradually lead to musculoskeletal strain, posture alterations, and functional limitations. Objective: To examine the association between prolonged smartphone use and its impact on neck posture, pain intensity, and functional disability among young adults. Methodology: This analytical cross-sectional study was conducted from March to August 2025 at the Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, Shifa Tameer-e-Millat University, Islamabad. A sample of 400 participants was enrolled utilizing a non-probability purposive sampling. Eligible participants were healthy males and females aged 18 to 25 years. Patients with a history of cervical trauma, fractures, or any neurological or vascular pathology were excluded. Ethical clearance for the study protocol was secured from the Institutional Review Board and Ethics Committee of Shifa International Hospital. The primary outcome measures included cervical range of motion, the Numeric Pain Rating Scale for pain intensity, the Neck Disability Index for functional status, and the Occiput-to-Wall Distance test for posture. Participants self-reported their average daily smartphone usage duration. Postural assessment was conducted via the Occiput-to-Wall Distance test, while cervical range of motion was evaluated using a bubble inclinometer. The pain score and Neck Disability Index were employed to quantify neck pain and its impact on daily activities, respectively. For statistical analysis, Spearman's correlation test was applied. Results: The findings revealed a weak but statistically significant positive correlation between smartphone use and both neck posture (p=0.01, r=0.11) and functional disability (p=0.00, r=0.13). However, no significant association was found with neck pain intensity (p=0.31, r=0.05). Conclusion: The study underscores that extended smartphone use is associated with postural deviations and functional impairment of the neck, though its direct link to neck pain remains statistically inconclusive. These findings highlight the need for awareness and preventive strategies to mitigate posture-related complications among young adults.