İnvestigation of the effects of smartphone use on spinal kinematics, posture, pain, gait and discomfort

The aim of this study was to examine the relationship between the effects of smartphone use on spinal kinematics and time-distance characteristics of gait and posture, pain and discomfort. A total of 42 healthy individuals, including 20 women and 22 men, were included in the study. Spinal kinematics of the participants were evaluated by video-photograph method, time-distance characteristics of gait with the GAITRite electronic walkway, posture assessment by New York Posture Analysis, pain and discomfort feeling with Cornell musculoskeletal discomfort feeling scale, quality of life with SF-36 short form, smartphone usage postures were evaluated with the Smartphone Perception Rating Scale and the smartphone addiction of individuals was evaluated with the Smartphone Addiction Scale. According to the data obtained; It was observed that the head and cervical region angles and the thoracic, thoracolumbar, and lumbar region angles of the individuals increased in the flexion direction, influenced by the use of smartphones in the sitting position (p<0.005). It was observed that the head, neck and thoracic region flexion angles increased in standing position and walking and were affected by smart phone use (p<0.005). While no correlation was observed between smartphone addiction and New York Posture Analysis (p>0.005), it was observed that pain and discomfort, fatigue level and physical role difficulty were associated with smartphone addiction (p<0,005). It was observed that the support surface, single support time and right double support time from the time-distance characteristics of the gait evaluated during smart phone use were not affected by smart phone use (p>0.005). According to the results of our study, we recommend that individuals sit in supported chairs during smartphone use, and receive support under the arm while using the phone, and we think that thus, upside down posture can be less and complaints such as pain can be reduced.