Text neck: the effect of smartphone usage on kinematics and clinical measures in young adults

Neck flexion, which is associated with neck pain development, is typically observed when an individual uses a smartphone. The purpose of this study was to determine if clinical measures and neck kinematics during smartphone use were different between those who do and do not develop neck and upper back pain. A cervical extensor strength test was performed before and after 30-min of monitored smartphone use. 53% of participants developed upper-back or neck pain and demonstrated a larger decrease in their cervical extensor fatigue test time. Young adults are at risk of developing musculoskeletal pain after short bouts of neck flexion, which may lead to more severe and costly healthcare issues.