The relationship between smartphone usage position, pain, smartphone addiction, and hand function

Abstract

BACKGROUND: The hand is the most frequently used part of the body during daily life activities. Any musculoskeletal problem that may occur in the hand can lead to loss of function. OBJECTIVE: This study examined the relationship between the wrist and elbow position adapted during smartphone use, pain and discomfort, smartphone addiction, and hand function. METHODS: Pain and discomfort were evaluated with the visual analog scale, wrist and elbow angle during phone use were evaluated with a universal goniometer, smartphone addiction was evaluated with the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version, and functional status of the hand was evaluated with the Michigan Hand Outcomes Questionnaire. RESULTS: A total of 120 university students (female: n= 60), with an average age of 22.71 ± 2.7 years, were included in this cross-sectional study. A relationship was found between the angle of the wrist and elbow during smartphone use and pain/discomfort (r= 0.692, p= 0.001), smartphone addiction (r= 0.575, p= 0.001), and hand function parameters (r= 0.20–0.55, p⩽ 0.05). CONCLUSION: Due to the increased use of smartphones in today’s environment, a preventive program should be developed in which texting for extended periods is avoided, along with frequent breaks to rest the hands, and stretching exercises for the upper extremities during rest.