BackgroundSmartphones have become essential tools in modern daily life, with usage intensifying in the post-pandemic era. Prolonged and addictive smartphone use has been increasingly associated with Musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) in the upper extremity. Beyond usage duration, device characteristics may also influence musculoskeletal strain.ObjectivesThis study examined the relationships between smartphone usage patterns, addiction levels, device dimensions, pain severity, and the 12-month prevalence of MSD in the upper extremityMaterials and MethodsA cross-sectional study was conducted among 262 adults aged 19-44 years with at least 12 months of smartphone use. Data were collected using a structured questionnaire incorporating demographic variables, smartphone usage habits, device specifications, the SNMQ, the SAS-SV and the NPRS.ResultsThe 12-month prevalence of neck, shoulder, elbow, and wrist/hand MSDs was 52.7%, 39.3%, 34%, and 51.1%, respectively. Smartphone addiction was present in 60.3% of participants and was significantly associated with shoulder, elbow, and wrist/hand MSDs. Gender showed a small but significant association with shoulder symptoms. Correlation analyses revealed small positive associations between smartphone width and neck pain, and between phone length/width and right wrist and right thumb pain. Logistic regression models identified that phone width predicted neck MSD, daily usage duration and overall body position contributed to shoulder MSD, age predicted elbow MSD, and both smartphone addiction and age predicted wrist/hand MSD.ConclusionSmartphone addiction, specific device dimensions, and behavioral factors contribute to MSD. These findings underscore the need for ergonomic device design and informed usage practices to reduce musculoskeletal strain among young adults.

We report improvements in debilitating cervicogenic dizziness (CD), as well as neck pain and upper and lower back pain, using Chiropractic BioPhysics® (CBP®) orthopedic rehabilitation with a one-year follow-up. CD is extremely debilitating and strongly impacts health outcomes. Reports of successful conservative treatments for CD combined with neck and spine pain with improved outcomes and sustained long-term results are rare, and this study adds to the literature. A 29-year-old female suffered from sudden-onset dizziness and frequent syncope elicited by cranio-cervical extension motions. The patient concomitantly reported moderate neck pain, upper mid-back pain, and low back pain, self-reported significant disability, and objectively displayed poor posture and altered spine alignment on radiography. Due to the worsening of her condition, she sought treatment at a facility in Shoreline, WA, USA. Following examination and diagnostic evaluation, she undertook an in-office treatment regimen. The multi-modal orthopedic regimen included postural exercises, postural spinal manipulation, and specific spinal structural traction. This combination Mirror Image (MI®) protocol has been shown to reduce pain and disability in musculoskeletal conditions, with improvement in CD and cervical lordosis. Following 68 in-office treatments over 5.5 months, all initial outcome assessments and physical, orthopedic, and neurological examinations were repeated and recorded. At the post-treatment assessment, the patient reported improvements in CD symptoms and neck, upper back, and lower back pain. Cervical lordosis improved from C2 to C7, measuring +9.4° (kyphotic) to -16.4° (lordotic). At the one-year follow-up, all outcome measures were stable; syncope was fully resolved, and 90% of the previously reported CD symptoms were resolved. Cervical lordosis remained stable at -17.6° (lordotic). This case documents successful treatment in a single patient using conservative spine and posture treatment protocols. This case report followed reporting guidelines. This study may contribute to the evidence aiming to fill the gap in the understanding of CD and potential conservative therapeutic interventions that are directed toward improving spine alignment.

Mechanical neck pain (MNP) is commonly accompanied by pain-related functional limitations, sensorimotor disturbances, and fear of movement, which together may contribute to persistent disability. This preliminary randomized controlled trial study investigated the short-term effects of dynamic neck sensorimotor-based biofeedback training in individuals with MNP. 20 MNP patients from outpatient clinics were assigned to a biofeedback training group or a control group. The training group underwent dynamic biofeedback exercises twice weekly for 2 weeks, whereas the control group performed repeated cervical movements without biofeedback. Outcomes included cervical kinematics as repositioning errors (RPE), movement units (MU), maximal range of motion (ROM), and subjective measures, including pain intensity, Neck Disability Index (NDI), and Fear-Avoidance Beliefs Questionnaire (FABQ). All participants completed post-intervention assessments; adherence in the training group was 100%, with no missing data and no adverse events reported. Within the biofeedback training group, participants receiving biofeedback training demonstrated greater improvements in cervical repositioning accuracy during flexion (51.95%, p = 0.04) and extension (46.67%, p = 0.02), along with reductions in fear-avoidance beliefs related to physical activity and work (p < 0.05); these changes were less apparent in the active control group. Exploratory regression analyses suggested associations between improvements in repositioning accuracy and pain reduction, and between increased cervical range of motion and improvements in fear-avoidance beliefs related to physical activity. These pilot findings suggest that dynamic sensorimotor biofeedback training may improve proprioceptive acuity and fear-avoidance beliefs in individuals with MNP, supporting further evaluation in an adequately powered randomized trial.