Evaluation of the effects of smartphone use on posture, pain, function and quality of life in young adults

The aim of the study is to determine the effects of the use of smartphone on the neck and shoulder posture, pain, and functions, and the quality of life in young adults. The study included 106 university students (84F, 22M; 19,67±1,32 years) from Yeditepe University Faculty of Health Sciences and Istanbul Gedik University Faculty of Health Sciences. The sociodemographic features of participants were recorded by using a structured questionnare. In the assessment of pain level, the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) was used. Functional levels of the neck and shoulders were evaluated with the Copenhagen Neck Functional Disability Scale (CNFDS) and the Shoulder Disability Questionnaire (SDQ). World Health Organization Quality of Life Instrument-Short Form (WHOQOL-Bref) was utilized to assess the quality of life. Postural analyzes of the participants were fulfilled with the New York Posture Rating Chart (NYPRC). According to the scores they got from the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV), all participants were divided into two groups as Excessive Smartphone Use Group (ESUG) (n=53) and Non-excessive Smartphone Use Group (NSUG) (n=53). Participants whose scores were higher than 30 were included to the ESUG and whose scores were 30 or less were included to the NSUG. It was found that the lateral neck and shoulder posture scores were lower, the neck and shoulder VAS scores were higher, the CNFDS and SDQ scores were higher, and the WHOQOL-Bref psychological health scores were lower in the ESUG when compared with the NSUG (respectively p=0.00, p=0.00, p=0.00, p=0.00, p=0.00, p=0.00, p<0,05). According to these results, the ESUG had statistically significant differences in terms of the neck and shoulder posture, pain, and function, and the quality of life than the NSUG. In conclusion, it was indicated that the use of smartphone has negative effects on posture, pain, function and quality of life in young adults.