Studies how smartphone use relates to neck posture in arthritis patients

AI summary

From the trial's eligibility criteria. Machine-read from the registry text on this page, so it can be wrong. The registry text below and the trial team decide who can take part.

The trial is looking for adults aged 18 to 65 who use a smartphone at least 2 hours a day. They have stable rheumatoid arthritis (RA), stable ankylosing spondylitis (AS), or are healthy controls.

Age

18 to 65 years

Sex

All sexes can join.

Disease stage

RA group: diagnosed by a rheumatologist, with stable disease activity (DAS28 < 3.2). AS group: diagnosed by a rheumatologist, with stable disease activity (BASDAI < 4).

Earlier treatment

People who actively use muscle relaxants or advanced sedative medications cannot join.

Main reasons for not taking part

• Past surgery in the neck area
• Neurological diseases such as Parkinson's disease or ALS
• Severe vision or hearing problems
• Vestibular (inner ear balance) disorders
• Acute neck injury or cancer

The registry criteria, word for word

Check if you might fit

Answer for yourself. This is not a decision: only the study team can say whether you can take part.

• Are you between 18 and 65 years old?YesNo

What the trial wants to find out

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.

The 3 groups in the trial

• Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) Group

  Patients diagnosed with Rheumatoid Arthritis by a rheumatologist, with a stable disease activity score (DAS28 \< 3.2), aged 18-65, and using a smartphone for at least 2 hours daily.

• Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) Group

  Patients diagnosed with Ankylosing Spondylitis by a rheumatologist, with a stable disease activity score (BASDAI \< 4), aged 18-65, and using a smartphone for at least 2 hours daily.

• Healthy Control Group

  Healthy individual volunteers aged 18-65 with no history of rheumatological, neurological, or chronic musculoskeletal diseases, and using a smartphone for at least 2 hours daily.