Comparison of Cervical Spine Kinematics and Clinical Neck Symptoms Between Mobile Device and Desktop Computer Use
The widespread use of mobile devices and desktop computers has been associated with mechanical neck symptoms, yet few studies have compared cervical kinematics and clinical symptoms between them. In this study, 15 participants (27.7 ± 4.4 years, 12 male) performed four randomly ordered 20 min tasks:...
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MDPI AG
2025-02-01
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| Series: | Sensors |
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| Online Access: | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/5/1438 |
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| author | Myung Woo Park Min Yong Seong Young Seop Song Kibum Youn Kyung Yong Yang Jehee Lee Sun Gun Chung Keewon Kim |
| author_facet | Myung Woo Park Min Yong Seong Young Seop Song Kibum Youn Kyung Yong Yang Jehee Lee Sun Gun Chung Keewon Kim |
| author_sort | Myung Woo Park |
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| description | The widespread use of mobile devices and desktop computers has been associated with mechanical neck symptoms, yet few studies have compared cervical kinematics and clinical symptoms between them. In this study, 15 participants (27.7 ± 4.4 years, 12 male) performed four randomly ordered 20 min tasks: two mobile (smartphone and tablet) and two desktop computer (keyboard and mouse) tasks. Kinematic variables, including neck flexion, lateral bending, axial rotation, anterior translation, and total distance moved, were measured using an optical motion capture system, while clinical symptoms, including discomfort, pain, tension, and fatigue, were assessed using a visual analog scale. Paired t-tests and linear mixed models were used for analysis. Results showed that mobile device users exhibited greater neck flexion (38.9° [32.1–45.6°] vs. −0.2° [−4.3–3.9°], <i>p</i> < 0.001) and anterior translation (21.0 cm [12.0–30.1] vs. 1.6 cm [−4.4–7.7], <i>p</i> < 0.001) compared to desktop users. All clinical symptoms were significantly higher during mobile device use (<i>p</i> < 0.05), with neck flexion and anterior translation strongly correlating with symptom severity. In conclusion, mobile device use leads to more severe neck symptoms compared to desktop computer use, which is associated with increased flexion and forward head posture. To reduce neck symptoms, avoiding sustained flexion and forward head positions during mobile device use is recommended. |
| format | Article |
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| institution | OA Journals |
| issn | 1424-8220 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-02-01 |
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| series | Sensors |
| spelling | doaj-art-c9ca45ef63384b7b81dcfd4c7e1796502025-08-20T02:06:15ZengMDPI AGSensors1424-82202025-02-01255143810.3390/s25051438Comparison of Cervical Spine Kinematics and Clinical Neck Symptoms Between Mobile Device and Desktop Computer UseMyung Woo Park0Min Yong Seong1Young Seop Song2Kibum Youn3Kyung Yong Yang4Jehee Lee5Sun Gun Chung6Keewon Kim7Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul Metropolitan Government-Seoul National University Boramae Medical Center, Seoul 07061, Republic of KoreaSeosong Hospital, Incheon 21043, Republic of KoreaSeoul Gangnam Rehabilitation Clinic KR, Seoul 06275, Republic of KoreaDIDIM Inc., Seongnam 13605, Republic of KoreaSamsung Life Insurance, Seoul 06620, Republic of KoreaSchool of Computer Science and Engineering, Seoul National University, Seoul 08826, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Republic of KoreaDepartment of Rehabilitation Medicine, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul National University Hospital, Seoul 03080, Republic of KoreaThe widespread use of mobile devices and desktop computers has been associated with mechanical neck symptoms, yet few studies have compared cervical kinematics and clinical symptoms between them. In this study, 15 participants (27.7 ± 4.4 years, 12 male) performed four randomly ordered 20 min tasks: two mobile (smartphone and tablet) and two desktop computer (keyboard and mouse) tasks. Kinematic variables, including neck flexion, lateral bending, axial rotation, anterior translation, and total distance moved, were measured using an optical motion capture system, while clinical symptoms, including discomfort, pain, tension, and fatigue, were assessed using a visual analog scale. Paired t-tests and linear mixed models were used for analysis. Results showed that mobile device users exhibited greater neck flexion (38.9° [32.1–45.6°] vs. −0.2° [−4.3–3.9°], <i>p</i> < 0.001) and anterior translation (21.0 cm [12.0–30.1] vs. 1.6 cm [−4.4–7.7], <i>p</i> < 0.001) compared to desktop users. All clinical symptoms were significantly higher during mobile device use (<i>p</i> < 0.05), with neck flexion and anterior translation strongly correlating with symptom severity. In conclusion, mobile device use leads to more severe neck symptoms compared to desktop computer use, which is associated with increased flexion and forward head posture. To reduce neck symptoms, avoiding sustained flexion and forward head positions during mobile device use is recommended.https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/5/1438mobile devicedesktop computerneck painkinematics |
| spellingShingle | Myung Woo Park Min Yong Seong Young Seop Song Kibum Youn Kyung Yong Yang Jehee Lee Sun Gun Chung Keewon Kim Comparison of Cervical Spine Kinematics and Clinical Neck Symptoms Between Mobile Device and Desktop Computer Use Sensors mobile device desktop computer neck pain kinematics |
| title | Comparison of Cervical Spine Kinematics and Clinical Neck Symptoms Between Mobile Device and Desktop Computer Use |
| title_full | Comparison of Cervical Spine Kinematics and Clinical Neck Symptoms Between Mobile Device and Desktop Computer Use |
| title_fullStr | Comparison of Cervical Spine Kinematics and Clinical Neck Symptoms Between Mobile Device and Desktop Computer Use |
| title_full_unstemmed | Comparison of Cervical Spine Kinematics and Clinical Neck Symptoms Between Mobile Device and Desktop Computer Use |
| title_short | Comparison of Cervical Spine Kinematics and Clinical Neck Symptoms Between Mobile Device and Desktop Computer Use |
| title_sort | comparison of cervical spine kinematics and clinical neck symptoms between mobile device and desktop computer use |
| topic | mobile device desktop computer neck pain kinematics |
| url | https://www.mdpi.com/1424-8220/25/5/1438 |
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