Effect of Smartphone Usage on Neck Muscle Endurance, Hand Grip and Pinch Strength among Healthy College Students: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Adel Alshahrani,Faisal Asiri,Mohamed Samy Abdrabo,Sobhy M Aly,Raee S Alqhtani,Mastour Saeed Alshahrani,Irshad Ahmad

doi:10.3390/ijerph18126290

Abstract

In recent years, there has been a significant increase in global smartphone usage driven by different purposes. This study aimed to explore the effect of smartphone usage on neck muscle (flexors and extensors) endurance, hand grip, and pinch strength among young, healthy college students. In total, 40 male students were recruited for this study; 20 of them belonged to the smartphone-addicted group, while the other 20 were in the non-addicted group based on their smartphone addiction scale—short version (SAS-SV) scores (the threshold for determining smartphone addiction: 31/60). Neck flexor endurance time, the ability to perform a neck extensor muscle endurance test, and hand and pinch grip strength were assessed. Multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA) was used to assess between-group differences in the mean values of neck flexor endurance time, hand grip, and pinch grip. A significant group effect (Wilks’ lambda = 0.51, F (5,34) = 6.34, p = 0.001, partial eta squared = 0.48) was found. A decrease in neck flexor endurance time was observed in the smartphone-addicted group compared with that of the non-addicted group (p < 0.001). However, there was no notable difference in the neck extensor muscle endurance test or in hand grip and pinch grip strength of both hands between groups (p > 0.05). Using a smartphone for a prolonged time might affect neck flexor muscle endurance; however, more research is needed to explore the long-term effects of using smartphones on neck muscle endurance and hand/pinch grip strength and the risk of developing upper limb neuromusculoskeletal dysfunction.

Highlights

Smartphones have become an essential object in everyday life; people of all ages have started using smartphones for different daily tasks
No significant difference between the groups was observed for mean age, weight, height, and body mass index (BMI) (p > 0.05)
This study investigated the effect of smartphone use on hand grip strength, pinch strength, and neck muscle endurance among healthy college students

Summary

Introduction

Smartphones have become an essential object in everyday life; people of all ages have started using smartphones for different daily tasks. Smartphones are a means of communication and a key source of information and entertainment. The world is becoming increasingly dependent on smartphones, and Saudi Arabia is ranked third in the world for smartphone usage, which can indirectly lead to various musculoskeletal problems [1]. The continuous checking and/or utilization of smartphone applications for prolonged periods is associated with stress, withdrawal, anxiety, sleep disturbance, decreased physical activity, poorer academic performance, and deterioration in wellbeing [2]. Several studies have shown an association between time spent using smartphones and the severity of musculoskeletal complaints [3]. Studies have reported the harmful impact of smartphones on neck and upper extremity function: the neck becomes more stressed due

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