Frequency of Neck Pain Along with Postural Deviation and Thumb Pain Among Smartphone Users in Engineering Universities

Abstract

Background: Excessive smartphone use has been associated with musculoskeletal and postural problems, particularly among young adults. Engineering students represent a high-risk group due to prolonged screen exposure. Objective: To determine the frequency of neck pain, postural deviation, and thumb pain among engineering university students with heavy smartphone use. Methods: This cross-sectional study included 373 participants (218 males, 155 females; aged 20–25 years) recruited through purposive sampling from five engineering universities in Karachi. Inclusion criteria required smartphone use for more than 4 hours daily. Data were collected using validated tools: the Neck Disability Index (NDI), the Cornell Hand Discomfort Questionnaire (CHDQ), and the REEDco posture assessment. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS version 25. Pearson correlation coefficient was applied, with significance set at p < 0.05. Results: Neck pain was reported by 67.8% of participants, with 45.3% showing mild disability, 17.4% moderate disability, 4.8% severe disability, and 0.3% complete disability. Thumb pain was present in 21.2%, and forward head posture in 32.2%. Mean scores (95% CI) were: NDI 9.31 (8.53–10.10), CHDQ 17.44 (14.21–20.67), and REEDco 81.00 (79.64–82.36). NDI and CHDQ demonstrated a significant positive correlation (r = 0.308, p < 0.001). Conclusion: Smartphone overuse among engineering students was strongly associated with neck disability and thumb pain, highlighting the need for ergonomic education and preventive healthcare strategies to reduce long-term musculoskeletal risks.

Keywords: Ergonomics, Musculoskeletal Disorders, Neck Disability Index, Posture, Smartphone Addiction, Text Neck, Thumb Pain, University Students.