Students’ knowledge regarding cervical posture when using a smartphone

Abstract

Background: in today’s world, we are facing a society dependent on smartphones. The repeated movements and the bad posture alongside its excessive usage promote musculoskeletal malfunctions. Objective: evaluate the individual’s knowledge about the cervical posture when using the smartphone, understand if there is any association between posture and the discomfort felt and, understand what is the self-awareness of the individuals regarding the posture they use. Methods: analytical study conceived among 318 students of the CESPU, and it was applied a questionnaire to characterize. Data it was analysed through with a significance level of 0.05. Results: 52 individuals have knowledge about the best cervical posture to adopt, and they indeed adopt it. It was an association between having knowledge and adopting good cervical posture and having less discomfort. This association was kept in the protective sense, and statistically significant when adjusted for age, BMI and schooling (OR=0.47). Among the group of students who knew the correct posture, having the first smartphone between the ages of 8 and 10 was a risk factor (OR=3.77), and using the smartphone less than 3 hours was a protective factor (OR=0.44). Conclusions:participants with the knowledge about good posture and indeed adopt it while using their smartphones, reveal a less discomfort. This association remained regardless the age, BMI and schooling of the participants. Having the first smartphone between the ages of 8 and 10 is a risk factor for not adopting a good cervical posture, and using the smartphone less than 3 hours a protective factor.