Adverse effects of excessive smartphone use on health and cervical spine development in children and adolescents
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.55892/jrg.v8i19.2800Keywords:
Excessive smartphone use. Postural changes in adolescents. Neck pain. Physiotherapeutic interventions. Postural re-education.Abstract
Introduction: Excessive smartphone use among children and adolescents negatively affects cervical spine health, causing postural changes, muscle overload, neck pain, and fatigue. Beyond physical effects, psychosocial impacts such as attention deficits, insomnia, and anxiety are also observed. Objective: To investigate the negative effects of excessive smartphone use on cervical spine health and development in children and adolescents. Methodology: This is an integrative literature review conducted in SciELO, PubMed, Google Scholar, and LILACS. Descriptors in Portuguese and English—“smartphone use,” “cervical posture,” “neck pain,” “children and adolescents,” “postural changes,” “text neck,” “physiotherapy,” and “postural education”—were combined using the Boolean operator AND. Studies published between 2008 and 2025, in Portuguese, English, or Spanish, and available in full text were included. Exclusion criteria were duplicates, studies focusing on adults or older populations, and publications not directly related to the topic. Results and Discussion: Findings show a strong association between prolonged smartphone use and cervical postural alterations, mainly due to sustained forward head flexion. Adolescents with extensive smartphone use exhibit forward head posture, shortened cervical flexor muscles, and weakened extensors, predisposing them to neck and low back pain. These changes also affect attention, academic performance, and mental health. Girls were observed to have a higher prevalence of neck pain. Preventive strategies include postural education programs combined with physical activity and screen time reduction. Physiotherapy is central to prevention and treatment through stretching, strengthening, and postural awareness. Conclusion: Excessive smartphone use compromises cervical posture, increases the risk of pain and functional alterations, and impacts the physical and mental health of children and adolescents. Educational and physiotherapeutic interventions are essential to promote healthy postural habits, prevent long-term complications, and improve quality of life in this population.
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