Text Neck Joint Position Error Among Taibah University Students, Saudi Arabia-Cross-Sectional Design

Background: Proprioceptive input from cervical muscles plays a vital role in postural control and coordinated movement. A defect in cervical proprioception, known as joint position error (JPE), is often associated with neck pain. However, the presence of JPE in asymptomatic individuals with varying severities of text neck or forward head posture (FHP) remains underexplored. This study aimed to investigate the presence and correlation of JPE in healthy female university students with different levels of text neck severity. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted on 68 female students aged 18-25 years. Participants were categorized into four groups (normal posture, mild, moderate, and severe text neck) through visual observational assessment. JPE was measured in sitting and standing positions using three tools: an inclinometer, a smartphone-based goniometer, and a laser beam. Correlational and comparative analyses were conducted across all groups and measurement tools. Results: The results demonstrated the presence of JPE in all groups, regardless of text neck severity, with no statistically significant differences between them. Additionally, correlation analysis showed no or weak non-significant relationships between JPE and text neck severity across all measurement tools. Conclusions: Cervical JPE may be present in young adults regardless of their text neck posture, and no significant correlation was found between the severity of text neck and proprioceptive deficit. These findings suggest that text neck alone may not be a predictive factor for impaired cervical proprioception in asymptomatic individuals. Early screening remains important, but further research is needed to understand contributing factors and long-term implications.