An Investigation of the Effect of Smartphone Usage Levels on Cervical Posture, Tongue Pressure, Balance, and Neck Disability in Individuals With Rheumatoid Arthritis and Ankylosing Spondylitis
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA)Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS)Forward Head Posture
Study summary
The purpose of this cross-sectional and comparative study is to investigate the impact of smartphone addiction on the cervical posture, musculoskeletal system, balance, and tongue pressure in individuals diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) and Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS), and to compare these findings with a healthy control group. Smartphone addiction has become a major contributing factor to postural alterations such as Text Neck Syndrome. This study aims to evaluate and compare the Craniovertebral Angle (CVA), neck extensor muscle strength, Pressure Pain Thresholds (PPT) of the neck and shoulder, Single-Leg Stance (SLS) static balance, and tongue pressure among three distinct groups. A healthy control group will be included as a reference baseline to differentiate the postural and functional deterioration caused by rheumatological diseases from the additional mechanical load imposed by smartphone dependency. To eliminate the misleading effects of acute pain, joint swelling, and severe functional limitations during flare-ups, only patients with stable disease activity (DAS28 \< 3.2 for RA and BASDAI \< 4 for AS) will be enrolled. This approach aims to examine the pure biomechanical relationship between technological dependency and cervical functions, independent of active systemic inflammation.
Eligibility
Sex
ALL
Min age
18 Years
Max age
65 Years
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Inclusion Criteria:
* Aged 18 to 65 years.
* Using a smartphone for at least 2 hours daily.
* Able to understand and follow postural commands during clinical measurements.
* For the Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Group: Diagnosed with RA by a rheumatologist, with a stable disease activity score (DAS28 \< 3.2).
* For the Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Group: Diagnosed with AS by a rheumatologist, with a stable disease activity score (BASDAI \< 4).
Exclusion Criteria:
* History of prior surgical intervention in the cervical region.
* Presence of neurological diseases (e.g., Parkinson's disease, ALS).
* Severe visual or hearing impairment.
* Vestibular system disorders.
* Severe limitation in jaw opening.
* Presence of acute neck trauma or malignancy.
* Lower extremity amputation or advanced arthritis that prevents performing the balance test.
* Active use of muscle relaxants or advanced sedative medications.
Primary outcome measure(s)
Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Version (SAS-SV) — At baseline (Single assessment session) The SAS-SV is a 10-item self-reported questionnaire used to evaluate the level of smartphone dependency. Each item is rated on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree). Total scores range from 10 to 60. The cutoff scores were determined to be 31 for men and 33 for women, with higher scores indicating a higher risk and severity of smartphone addiction.
Trial sites (1)
Facility
City
Region
Status
Necmettin Erbakan University Faculty of Medicine Hospital, Rheumatology Outpatient Clinic
This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.
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