Adverse effects of smartphone and tablet use on the physical health/musculoskeletal system of young adults (18-30 years old)

Details

Supervisors

Schepens, Bénédicte ; Toussaint, Thibaut

Faculty

Faculté des sciences de la motricité

Degree label

Master [60] en kinésithérapie et réadaptation

Abstract

Objective: This narrative literature review aims to comprehensively examine the effects of prolonged and consistent usage of smartphone and tablet devices on the musculoskeletal system, while also exploring potential strategies for mitigating and preventing long-term issues. Methods: This narrative review was carried out based on the criteria mentioned in the PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta Analysis) checklist. A systematic search was conducted across databases such as PubMed and Embase. The sample criteria encompassed young adults aged 18 to 30 years who were smartphone users. The studies considered were experimental, cohort, or cross-sectional, and published between 2017 and 2022 in English, French, or Portuguese. Results: Following the elimination of duplicates and application of the selection criteria, the initial 290 articles were narrowed down to 18 articles that met the inclusion criteria. Among these, five established a positive correlation between timing of smartphone use and the onset of musculoskeletal symptoms, while two studies confirmed a link between smartphone usage posture and physical health. However, three studies failed to discover such association. Furthermore, repetitive movements were identified as a potential cause of nerve damage. Notably, employing smartphones in a standing posture heightened upper trapezius activities, while smartphone use during gait was linked to reduced attention, gait speed, and step cadence. Conclusion: The findings of this systematic literature review reveal a correlation between smartphone usage and the emergence of musculoskeletal symptoms. Nevertheless, due to conflicting outcomes among studies, further research is imperative to establish a more definitive understanding of the influence of smartphone usage on physical health.