Relación en el uso de dispositivos móviles y alteraciones cervicales en estudiantes universitarios.

Abstract

Introduction: Cervical disorders are a multifactorial problem affecting modern society. Vicious postures, trauma and congenital defects related to the cervical spine can lead to instability, radicular impingement, cervicoarthrosis and cervicalgia. Objective: To relate the use of mobile devices with cervical disorders in university students. Methodology: Descriptive, observational study carried out between May and July 2023, with a sample of 172 university students obtained by applying the formula for the sample calculation of known populations, by means of non-probabilistic sampling. Results: This study sought to relate how the use of mobile devices affects cervical health in students (n=172, mean age 21,7 years). Although statistical relationships were not consistent, it was observed that those who used mobile phones longer (87,0%) showed more cervical limitations than less frequent users (73,5%). Joint mobility was limited in 84,3% of the population, especially in males (93,5%). Normal muscular endurance in extension was more prevalent for males (84,9%), while impaired endurance in flexion was more prevalent in females (94,9%). Conclusions: According to the results obtained in this research, insufficient evidence was found to determine a significant relationship between cervical alterations and the use of mobile phones, although a greater limitation was observed in the case of those who used the mobile device the longest.