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Updated: Aug 2, 2026
Video Movement Analysis Using Smartphones (ViMAS): A Pilot Study
Published on: March 14, 2017
Association of smartphone overuse and neck pain: a systematic review and meta-analysis
Yan-Jyun Chen1, Ching-Yuan Hu2, Wen-Tien Wu1,2,3
1Department of Orthopedics, Hualien Tzu Chi Hospital, Buddhist Tzu Chi Medical Foundation, Hualien, Taiwan.
Background:
Smartphone overuse is associated with both psychological and physical health problems, including depression and musculoskeletal disorders. However, the association between smartphone overuse and neck pain remains unclear. We performed a meta-analysis to examine the relation between smartphone overuse and neck pain, and to identify high-risk usage patterns.
Methods:
PubMed, Embase, and Cochrane CENTRAL databases were searched for relevant studies published up to 16 August 2023, using keywords including "smartphone" and "neck pain". Prospective, retrospective, and case-controlled studies assessing the correlation between smartphone overuse and neck pain were eligible. The Newcastle-Ottawa Scale was used to assess the quality of the included studies. Meta-regression and sensitivity analysis using the leave-one-out approach were performed to test the robustness of the results (PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024599227).
Results:
Seven retrospective studies including 10 715 participants were included in the systematic review and meta-analysis. The mean age of the participants ranged from 19.9 to 42.9 years. The meta-analysis revealed that compared to participants without smartphone overuse, those who overused a smartphone had a significantly higher risk of neck pain (pooled adjusted odds ratio = 2.34, 95% confidence interval: 1.44-3.82).
Conclusions:
These results indicate a significant association between smartphone overuse and increased risk of neck pain. Our findings underscore the necessity of addressing smartphone overuse as a health concern, especially considering its growing prevalence in modern society.
