Head flexion angle while using a smartphone.

Area of Science:

• Ergonomics
• Biomechanics
• Digital Health

Background:

• Prolonged or repetitive head flexion during smartphone use is a recognized risk factor for neck pain.
• Understanding the quantitative measures of head posture during smartphone use is crucial for mitigating associated pain symptoms.

Purpose of the Study:

• To quantitatively assess the amount and range of head flexion in smartphone users across different tasks and postures.
• To identify specific smartphone activities and positions that exacerbate head flexion and may contribute to neck pain.

Main Methods:

• Eighteen participants were monitored in a laboratory setting.
• Head forward flexion angles were measured during text messaging, web browsing, and video watching, while both sitting and standing.

Main Results:

• Participants typically maintained a head flexion angle between 33-45° from vertical while using smartphones.
• Head flexion was significantly greater during text messaging compared to other tasks (p < 0.05).
• Head flexion was also significantly greater when participants were sitting compared to standing.

Conclusions:

• Text messaging, a highly frequent smartphone application, emerges as a primary contributor to neck pain among heavy users due to increased head flexion.
• The combination of text messaging and sitting posture results in the most severe head flexion, highlighting a critical risk factor for neck pain.