Smartphone Addiction on the Biomechanical Properties of Thumb Muscles and Thumb Sensory Sensitivity

NCT07040267 | Recruiting

• 1 other identifier: Smartphone Addiction& Thumb-1
• Study Type: observational
• Target: 36
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

This study will aim to assess the effects of smartphone addiction on thumb muscle biomechanics and sensory sensitivity among university students. The research will investigate whether excessive smartphone use leads to significant differences in muscle tone, stiffness, elasticity, and sensory discrimination capabilities.

Conditions

Smartphone Addiction; Thumb Injury

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• MyotonPro™ Muscle Assessment

  This device will be used to assess muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity in the abductor pollicis brevis, opponens pollicis, and flexor pollicis brevis muscles of both hands. Measurements will be performed with the participant in a standardized seated position.

  Baseline

Secondary Outcomes (2)

• Baseline Aesthesiometer Sensory Assessment

  Baseline

• Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV)

  Baseline

Study Arms (2)

Smartphone-Addicted Group

This group will consist of university students who will be identified as addicted to smartphones based on their scores on the Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV). Participants scoring above the cut-off threshold will be assigned to this group. Weekly screen time will also be recorded.

Diagnostic Test: Thumb evaluations

Non-Addicted Control Group

This group will consist of university students who will be identified as not addicted to smartphones based on their SAS-SV scores, scoring below the determined cut-off point. Weekly screen time will also be recorded.

Diagnostic Test: Thumb evaluations

Interventions

Thumb evaluations DIAGNOSTIC_TEST

There is no therapeutic or experimental intervention in this study. All procedures will be limited to diagnostic evaluations. The study will include non-invasive biomechanical and sensory assessments to compare the thumb muscle characteristics and sensory discrimination between smartphone-addicted and non-addicted university students. Specifically, muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity will be measured using the MyotonPro™ device, and thumb sensory sensitivity will be evaluated using a Baseline Aesthesiometer with a two-point discrimination test. These assessments will be conducted during a single laboratory visit and will not involve any treatment, medication, or behavioral intervention. This is a purely observational study aimed at identifying potential associations between smartphone usage patterns and thumb neuromuscular or sensory changes.

Non-Addicted Control Group; Smartphone-Addicted Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 30 Years
• Sex: all
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)
• Sampling Method: Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population will consist of university students aged 18 to 30 years who are regular smartphone users. Participants will be recruited from a university setting and will voluntarily participate in the study after providing written informed consent. Both male and female students will be eligible. Participants will be assigned to one of two groups-smartphone-addicted or non-addicted-based on their scores on the Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV). Only healthy individuals without any systemic, neurological, musculoskeletal, or upper extremity disorders will be included. The study will focus on a relatively homogeneous group of young adults to examine the early neuromuscular and sensory impacts of smartphone usage.

You may qualify if:

• Aged 18-30 years
• Currently enrolled university students
• Regular smartphone users

You may not qualify if:

• Presence of systemic, chronic, or neuromuscular disorders
• History of upper limb surgery or trauma
• Neurological or orthopedic conditions affecting upper extremities
• Subcutaneous fat over target muscles \>20 mm
• Presence of wounds or burns on the measurement area

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi: lead

Study Sites (1)

Esra Pehlivan

Istanbul, Üsküdar, 34668, Turkey (Türkiye)

RECRUITING

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Internet Addiction Disorder

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Technology Addiction; Behavior, Addictive; Compulsive Behavior; Impulsive Behavior; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: observational
• Observational Model: CASE CONTROL
• Time Perspective: PROSPECTIVE
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Principal Investigator

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: June 18, 2025
• First Posted: June 27, 2025
• Study Start: July 1, 2025
• Primary Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): July 1, 2026
• Last Updated: July 2, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-07

Locations

TU (1)