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ORIGINAL PAPER
Spinal alignment in habitual standing position and while using smartphones in healthy young adults
1
Physiotherapy Faculty, Wroclaw University of Health and Sport Sciences, Wroclaw, Poland
Submission date: 2023-10-19
Acceptance date: 2023-12-19
Publication date: 2024-03-25
Physiother Quart. 2024;32(1):105-110
KEYWORDS
TOPICS
ABSTRACT
Introduction:
A cascade of biomechanical changes occurs with postural deviations. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the trunk position and spine shape during smartphone use.
Methods:
Body posture was tested by the photogrammetric method in habitual standing position and while using smartphones in 39 healthy subjects of both sexes.
Results:
While using smartphones, the trunk was shifted backwards (F(1.37) = 166.19, p = 0.0000), and the angle of the cervical spine increased in both sexes (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the depth of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis increased (p < 0.001), though only in the female group, but there were no differences in cervical load between groups (p > 0.05).
Conclusions:
Using a smartphone caused backward displacement of the upper torso in both sexes. It was also found that using a smartphone increased the depth of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis in females, which should be interpreted as a compensatory mechanism.
A cascade of biomechanical changes occurs with postural deviations. Therefore, this study aimed to determine the trunk position and spine shape during smartphone use.
Methods:
Body posture was tested by the photogrammetric method in habitual standing position and while using smartphones in 39 healthy subjects of both sexes.
Results:
While using smartphones, the trunk was shifted backwards (F(1.37) = 166.19, p = 0.0000), and the angle of the cervical spine increased in both sexes (p < 0.05). Furthermore, the depth of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis increased (p < 0.001), though only in the female group, but there were no differences in cervical load between groups (p > 0.05).
Conclusions:
Using a smartphone caused backward displacement of the upper torso in both sexes. It was also found that using a smartphone increased the depth of thoracic kyphosis and lumbar lordosis in females, which should be interpreted as a compensatory mechanism.
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