Alghadir Ahmad H, Gabr Sami A, Rizk Ashraf A, Alghadir Talal, Alghadir Faisal, Iqbal Amir
Rehabilitation Research Chair, Department of Rehabilitation Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, P.O. Box 10219, 11433, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Department of Biomechanics & Motor Behavior, College of Sport Sciences & Physical Activity, King Saud University, 11433, Riyadh, Saudi Arabia.
Eur J Med Res. 2025 Apr 15;30(1):274. doi: 10.1186/s40001-025-02413-w.
Smartphone addiction significantly impacts the musculoskeletal system, with 79% of younger adults aged 18-44 reporting excessive cell phone use. In addition, rare data exist on the roles of biological markers like 5-HT receptors, oxidative stress markers (TAC, MDA), collagen biomarkers (TIMP-1, TIMP-2), and triglycerides (TG) in the effects of smartphone addiction on the musculoskeletal system, particularly among university students.
Thus, the study aimed to investigate the potential link between smartphone addiction levels and certain biological indicators related to musculoskeletal injuries in the hands and necks of young, healthy university students.
A total of 250 healthy university students aged 17-30 years old were randomly invited to participate in this descriptive cross-sectional analytical study. All participants were categorized into two groups based on their smartphone usage duration: non-addicted (1-3h./day; n = 48) and addicted (≥ 5h./day; n = 12). Smartphone addiction, musculoskeletal discomfort in the neck and hands, adiposity-related outcomes, and musculoskeletal disorder (MSD) biomarkers, like matrixmetalloproteinases (MMPs); TIMP-1,TIMP-2;5-hydroxytryptophans (5-HT), triglyceride (TG), malondialdehyde (MDA), and total antioxidant capacity (TAC) were assessed using validated questionnaires like the Neck Disability Index (NDI), Cornell Hand Discomfort Questionnaire (CHDQ), and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS), respectively, and ELISA immunoassay analysis.
A significant link was reported between smartphone addiction and neck pain, hand discomfort, and adiposity markers in 64%of the participant cohort. Moreover, females exhibited higher rates of addiction and susceptibility compared to their male counterparts (62.5% vs. 37.5%). Overall, the outcomes score of prolonged smartphone usage was positively correlated with adiposity, musculoskeletal disorders, and pain measured by the NDI, CHDQ, and VAS, respectively. Smartphone-addicted students demonstrated lower levels of TIMP-1, TIMP-2, and TAC activity, along with elevated 5-HT, TG, and MDA levels, compared to non-addicted controls.
Smartphone addiction is positively associated with adiposity and musculoskeletal issues, particularly in the neck, shoulders, and hands, among university students. Key biomarkers (TIMP-1, TIMP-2, 5-HT, TG, MDA, TAC) significantly correlate with the severity of neck and hand MSD, as indicated by NDI, CHDQ, and VAS scores. Thus, public health initiatives are essential to raise awareness of the physical and biological risks of excessive smartphone use.
智能手机成瘾对肌肉骨骼系统有显著影响，18 - 44岁的年轻成年人中有79%报告存在过度使用手机的情况。此外，关于5 - 羟色胺受体、氧化应激标志物（总抗氧化能力、丙二醛）、胶原蛋白生物标志物（基质金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子 - 1、基质金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子 - 2）和甘油三酯等生物标志物在智能手机成瘾对肌肉骨骼系统影响中的作用的数据很少，尤其是在大学生中。
因此，本研究旨在调查年轻、健康的大学生智能手机成瘾水平与手部和颈部肌肉骨骼损伤相关的某些生物指标之间的潜在联系。
总共随机邀请了250名年龄在17 - 30岁的健康大学生参与这项描述性横断面分析研究。所有参与者根据其智能手机使用时长分为两组：非成瘾组（每天1 - 3小时；n = 48）和成瘾组（每天≥5小时；n = 12）。分别使用诸如颈部残疾指数（NDI）、康奈尔手部不适问卷（CHDQ）和视觉模拟量表（VAS）等经过验证的问卷，以及酶联免疫吸附测定分析，评估智能手机成瘾情况、颈部和手部的肌肉骨骼不适、肥胖相关结果以及肌肉骨骼疾病（MSD）生物标志物，如基质金属蛋白酶（MMPs）、基质金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子 - 1、基质金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子 - 2、5 - 羟色氨酸（5 - HT）、甘油三酯（TG）、丙二醛（MDA）和总抗氧化能力（TAC）。
在64%的参与者队列中，报告了智能手机成瘾与颈部疼痛、手部不适和肥胖标志物之间存在显著联系。此外，女性的成瘾率和易感性高于男性（62.5%对37.5%）。总体而言，长时间使用智能手机的结果评分分别与肥胖、肌肉骨骼疾病以及通过NDI、CHDQ和VAS测量的疼痛呈正相关。与非成瘾对照组相比，智能手机成瘾的学生表现出较低水平的基质金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子 - 1、基质金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子 - 2和总抗氧化能力活性，以及升高的5 - 羟色胺、甘油三酯和丙二醛水平。
智能手机成瘾与肥胖和肌肉骨骼问题呈正相关，特别是在大学生的颈部、肩部和手部。关键生物标志物（基质金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子 - 1、基质金属蛋白酶组织抑制因子 - 2、5 - 羟色胺、甘油三酯、丙二醛、总抗氧化能力）与颈部和手部MSD的严重程度显著相关，如NDI、CHDQ和VAS评分所示。因此，公共卫生倡议对于提高人们对过度使用智能手机的身体和生物风险的认识至关重要。
