Examining the Effect of Smartphone on Musculoskeletal Disorders and Neck Kinematic Among Smartphone Users in Different Postures and Tasks

Background and Objectives: In the last decade, the smartphones have become one of the most popular technologies around the world. Due to the multi-functional use of smartphones, the technology users spend long hours using it. Methods: This was a semi-experimental and experimental study. In the first section, 98 students entered the semi-experimental part and completed demographic and body map questionnaires before starting the study. They were asked to perform their duties with their phone for 20 minutes and then complete the body map questionnaire again. In the second part of this study, 12 women from the first group participated in the experimental study to assess the neck flexion using the motion capture. SPSS 24 was used for statistical analysis. Results: Searching the Internet and sending texts were the most common tasks among the participants in this study. The use of cell phone caused an increase in pain and discomfort in the neck, shoulder, thumb, thenar. The results of the study showed that there is a significant association between sitting posture and high level of neck forward flexion. Furthermore, neck flexion increased during typing while both hands holding the handset. Conclusion: Smartphone users have had repetitive motions in fixed postures for a long time, and these factors are thought to increase the likelihood of musculoskeletal disorders.