Abstract
The younger generations are labeled 'digital native' among whom smartphone penetration and adoption is high. However, the health consequences of intense utilization of smartphones as a contributor to the increasing prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders in young adults are less explored. This study investigated patterns of musculoskeletal pain, postural abnormalities, and smartphone usage among undergraduate university students.
Highlights
Musculoskeletal pain affects the muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons and has been observed to be one of the most occurring symptoms of musculoskeletal disorder [1]
Shoulder pain, wrist pain, and back pain were more common in smartphone using digital natives with a greater proportion of females affected
Most digital natives adopted more faulty postures that predispose them to musculoskeletal pain
Summary
Musculoskeletal pain affects the muscles, bones, joints, ligaments, and tendons and has been observed to be one of the most occurring symptoms of musculoskeletal disorder [1]. Musculoskeletal pain is extremely common and affects people of all ages, gender, and sociodemographic background in society including young adults [2]. A lifetime and point prevalence of musculoskeletal pain of 54.50% and 51.7% respectively were reported from a recent study conducted among undergraduates in Nigeria [4]. The current electronic device in use are smartphones, videogames, computers, laptops, and tablets of which smartphones have become the most common means of communication [5]. Different age groups make use of smartphones with young adults having the greatest proportions of smartphone use compared to all other age groups [7]. A great number of young adults are found in universities and these undergraduates have an unregulated usage and over-dependent attitude on smartphones [8]
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