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The Effect of Smartphone Use Duration in Patients With Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain.

The safety and scientific validity of this study is the responsibility of the study sponsor and investigators. Listing a study does not mean it has been evaluated by the U.S. Federal Government. Read our disclaimer for details.
 
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03745469
Recruitment Status : Completed
First Posted : November 19, 2018
Last Update Posted : February 5, 2019
Sponsor:
Information provided by (Responsible Party):
Aliaa Rehan Youssef, Cairo University

Study Description
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Brief Summary:

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to investigate the effects of smartphone usage duration on neck pain and sense of position as well as Deep Cervical Flexor (DCF) fatigue in young and middle aged patients with chronic mechanical neck pain.

BACKGROUND: Neck pain is one of most common causes of musculoskeletal disorders with a prevalence up to 86.8 %. It may interfere with the ability to perform normal activities of daily living (ADL). Patients with neck pain may present with reduced Rang of Motion (ROM) and diminished cervical position sense.

There are many risk factors that have been associated with neck pain including physiological factors such as age or pathomechanical factors such as increased physical demand on the spine. Smartphone use has been proposed as a risk factor for the development of neck pain in young adults due to sustaining a prolonged static posture or repeating particular neck movements for long period. The adverse effects of smartphone increases as the duration of the use increases. Aging is associated with increased cervical reposition error and reduced DCF muscle endurance, yet it is not clear how older adults will respond to prolonged use of smartphone.

HYPOTHESES: Increased duration of smartphone use will

  1. increase neck pain in middle aged compared to young adult patients with chronic mechanical.
  2. decrease cervical position sense in middle aged compared to young adult patients with chronic mechanical neck pain.
  3. increase DCF fatigue in middle aged compared to young adult patients with chronic mechanical neck pain.

RESEARCH QUESTION: Would increased duration of smartphone usage accentuate neck pain, cervical reposition error and DCF fatigue in middle aged compared to young adults with chronic mechanical neck pain?


Condition or disease Intervention/treatment
Neck Pain Cervical Pain Device: Smartphone

Detailed Description:

Patients with chronic mechanical neck pain will be instructed to use a standard smartphone for web browsing, either for 10 or 30 minutes, while seated on a standard chair at two separate sessions. Task duration will be tested by a random order generated by the Excel software.

The outcome measures for this study will be neck pain, DCF fatigue and neck reposition error. All measures will be assessed prior to and immediately after performing the required task in each session by a single trained assessor.

Neck pain will be assessed using the visual analogue scale (VAS), proprioception acuity will be quantified by measuring the repositioning error angle using Cervical Range of Motion instrument (CROM) and DCF endurance will be quantified using the neck stabilizer pressure biofeedback device.

Study Design
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Study Type : Observational
Actual Enrollment : 80 participants
Observational Model: Case-Only
Time Perspective: Cross-Sectional
Official Title: Effects of Smartphone Usage Duration on Neck Dysfunction in Young Versus Middle Aged Patients With Chronic Mechanical Neck Pain
Actual Study Start Date : November 20, 2018
Actual Primary Completion Date : January 31, 2019
Actual Study Completion Date : January 31, 2019

Resource links provided by the National Library of Medicine


Groups and Cohorts
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Group/Cohort Intervention/treatment
Young-age group
Patient between the age of 18 and 30 years old, with a confirmed diagnosis of chronic mechanical neck pain
 Device: Smartphone
A standard smartphone will be used for browsing the internet for two different durations (10 and 30 minutes)
Other Names:
  • Smart phone
  • Cell phone
  • Mobile Phone
Middle-age group
Patients between 30 and 60 years old, with a confirmed diagnosis of chronic mechanical neck pain.
 Device: Smartphone
A standard smartphone will be used for browsing the internet for two different durations (10 and 30 minutes)
Other Names:
  • Smart phone
  • Cell phone
  • Mobile Phone


Outcome Measures
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Primary Outcome Measures :
  1. Current neck pain severity [ Time Frame: 1 week ]

    Pain will be measured using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) which is a valid and reliable pain measurement tool.

    Each participant will be asked to put a mark on a 10-cm horizontal line that is marked with 'zero' at one end to indicate no pain and marked with'10' at the other end to indicate maximum pain.This ill be done at two separate session, before and immediately after using the smartphone for the specified period.



Secondary Outcome Measures :
  1. DCF endurance [ Time Frame: 1 week ]
    The endurance of DCF muscles will be assessed using the Neck stabilizer pressure biofeedback. This ill be done at two separate session, before and immediately after using the smartphone for the specified period.

  2. Neck proprioception [ Time Frame: 1 week ]
    repositioning error for neck flexion, extension and rotation will be measured using the CROM. Error will be calculated as absolute angle of error. This ill be done at two separate session, before and immediately after using the smartphone for the specified period.


Eligibility Criteria
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Ages Eligible for Study:   18 Years to 60 Years   (Adult)
Sexes Eligible for Study:   Female
Gender Based Eligibility:   Yes
Gender Eligibility Description:   self-representation of gender identity
Accepts Healthy Volunteers:   No
Sampling Method:   Non-Probability Sample
Study Population
Patients will a confirmed diagnosis of chronic mechanical neck pain for over 3 months.
Criteria

Inclusion Criteria:

  1. Adult female patients with an age ranging from 18 to 60 years old.
  2. Referred with a diagnosis of chronic mechanical neck pain for more than 3 months.
  3. Patients should have at least a one year experience in using touch-screen smartphone.
  4. Have a neck impairment of more than 8% on the neck disability index (NDI).

Exclusion Criteria:

  1. Any history of upper extremity injury or surgery within the past year
  2. Visual problems, dizziness and vertigo
  3. Any deformity in the upper extremities or spine
  4. Previous history of spinal surgery.
  5. Neurological or systemic disorders that interfere with balance and sensation
  6. Low back pain or deformity.
  7. Patients with any red flags such as malignancy, infection, inflammation, myelopathy.
  8. If patient having any physical difficulties interfering with the use of smartphone while sitting and standing.
Contacts and Locations
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Top of Page Study Description Study Design Groups and Cohorts Outcome Measures Eligibility Criteria Contacts and Locations More Information

Information from the National Library of Medicine

To learn more about this study, you or your doctor may contact the study research staff using the contact information provided by the sponsor.

Please refer to this study by its ClinicalTrials.gov identifier (NCT number): NCT03745469


Locations
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Egypt
The outpatient clinic of the Faculty of Physical Therapy, Cairo University
Cairo, Egypt
The outpatient Clinic, kasr Al-Aini Hospital
Cairo, Egypt
Sponsors and Collaborators
Aliaa Rehan Youssef
Investigators
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Principal Investigator: Aliaa Rehan Youssef, PhD Cairo University, Faculty of Physical Therapy
More Information
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Publications:
AlZarea, B. K., & Patil, S. R. (2015). Mobile Phone Head and Neck Pain Syndrome : Proposal of a New Entity. Headache, 14(5), 63-3.
Arslan, Ahmet; Tutgun, A. (2013). Examination of cell phone usage habits and purposes of education faculty students. International Journal of Human Sciences, 10(1), 182-201.
Blatter, B. M., & Bongers, P. M. (2002). Duration of computer use and mouse use in relation to musculoskeletal disorders of neck or upper limb. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 30(4-5), 295-306.
Douglas, E. C., & Gallagher, K. M. (2018). Are the Neck Positions and Muscle Activity Observed when Reading a Tablet Similar to That of the Cervical Flexion-Relaxation Onset ? Are the Neck Positions and Muscle Activity Observed when Reading a Tablet Similar to That of the Cervical Flexion-Relaxati. IISE Transactions on Occupational Ergonomics and Human Factors, (Just-Accepted)., 1-7.
Elwardany, S. H., El-sayed, W. H.,& Ali, M. F. . (2016). Validity of Kinovea Computer Program in Measuring Cervical Range of Motion in Frontal Plane, 84(1), 579-587.
Gong, W., Kim, C., & Lee, Y. (2012). Correlations between Cervical Lordosis , Forward Head Posture , Cervical ROM and the Strength and Endurance of the Deep Neck Flexor Muscles in College Students. Journal of Physical Therapy Science, 24(3), 275-277.
Greig, A. M., Straker, L. M., & Briggs, A. M. (2005). Cervical erector spinae and upper trapezius muscle activity in children using different information technologies. Physiotherapy, 91(2), 119-126.
Hudswell, S., Von Mengersen, M., & Lucas, N. (2005). The cranio-cervical flexion test using pressure biofeedback : A useful measure of cervical dysfunction in the clinical setting ? International Journal of Osteopathic Medicine, 8(3), 98-105.
Jull, G. A. (2000). Deep Cervical Flexor Muscle Dysfunction in Whiplash. Musculoskeletal Pain, 8(1-2), 143-154.
Ko, Kyung, Hee-Soo Kim, and J.-H. W. (2013). The Study of Muscle Fatigue and Risks of Musculoskeletal System Disorders from Text Inputting on a Smartphone. The Ergonomics Society of Korea, 32(3), 273-278.
Lee, S. Y., Lee, D. H., & Han, S. K. (2016). The Effects of Posture on Neck Flexion Angle While Using a Smartphone according to Duration. Korean Society of Physical Medicine, 11(3), 35-39.
Lee, C., & Lee, S. J. (2017). Prevalence and predictors of smartphone addiction proneness among Korean adolescents. Children and Youth Services Review, 77(4), 10-17.
Lee, H. (2016). Neck Pain and Functioning in Daily Activities Associated with Smartphone Usage. Journal of Korean Physical Therapy, 28(3), 183-188.
Lee, S., Lee, P. T. D., & Han, P. T. S. (2016). The Effects of Posture on Neck Flexion Angle While Using a Smartphone according to Duration, 11(3), 35-39.
Neupane, S., Ali, U. T. I., Mathew, A., & College, M. V. S. (2017). Text Neck Syndrome - Systematic Review. Imperial Journal of Interdisciplinary Research, 3(7), 141-148.
Olaogun, M. O., Adedoyin, R. A., Ikem, I. C., & Anifaloba, O. R. (2004). Reliability of rating low back pain with a visual analogue scale and a semantic differential scale. Physiotherapy Theory and Practice, 20(2), 135-142.
Park, J., Kim, K., Kim, N., Choi, I., & Lee, S. (2015). A Comparison of Cervical Flexion , Pain , and Clinical Depression in Frequency of Smartphone Use. International Journal of Bio-Science and Bio-Technology, 7(3), 183-190.
Peper, E., Waderich, K., Harvey, R., & Sutter, S. (2013). The Psychophysiology of Contemporary Information Technologies Tablets and Smartphones Can Be a Pain in the Neck 1. In Applied Psychophysiology and Biofeedback, 38(3), 219-233.
Petersen, C. M., Zimmermann, C. L., & Tang, R. (2013). Proprioception interventions to improve cervical position sense in cervical pathology. International Journal of Therapy and Rehabilitation, 20(3), 154-163.
Rafat, D., Azab, E., Amin, D. I., Mohamed, G. I., Rafat, D., & Azab, E. (2017). Effect of smart phone using duration and gender on dynamic balance. International Journal of Medical Research & Health Sciences, 6(1), 42-49.
Reddy, R. S., Maiya, G. A., & Rao, S. K. (2012). Proprioceptive reposition errors in subjects with cervical spondylosis. International Journal of Health Sciences & Research, 1(2), 65-73.
Szeto, G. P. Y., Straker, L. M., & O'Sullivan, P. B. (2005). The effects of speed and force of keyboard operation on neck-shoulder muscle activities in symptomatic and asymptomatic office workers. International Journal of Industrial Ergonomics, 35(5), 429-444.

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Responsible Party: Aliaa Rehan Youssef, Associate Professor of Orthopedic Physical Therapy, Cairo University
ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier: NCT03745469    
Other Study ID Numbers: Asmaa
First Posted: November 19, 2018    Key Record Dates
Last Update Posted: February 5, 2019
Last Verified: February 2019
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement:
Plan to Share IPD: Undecided
Plan Description: Journal publications and conferences

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Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Drug Product: No
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated Device Product: No
Keywords provided by Aliaa Rehan Youssef, Cairo University:
Smartphone
Age
proprioception
Deep cervical fatigue
neck pain
Additional relevant MeSH terms:
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Neck Pain
Pain
Neurologic Manifestations