Does Mental Fatigue Caused by Social Media Use Affect Biomechanical Properties of Muscles in Young Male Athletes?

NCT07263334 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 2024-110
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 25
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of mental fatigue (MF) induced by 30 minutes of social media use on neck kinematics and neck muscle biomechanical properties in young male athletes. Twenty-five participants are enrolled in a single-blind cross-sectional design. Baseline and post-MF assessments include cervical range of motion measured with a CROM device, forward head posture evaluated using craniovertebral angle analysis, and muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity measured with MyotonPRO. MF is induced through 30 minutes of Instagram® use on a smartphone and quantified with a 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). No results or conclusions are provided in this section.

Conditions

Mental Fatigue; Socail Media Usage; Cervical Range of Motion

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (3)

• Range of Motion of the Neck

  The normal joint motion of the cervical region was evaluated with the Cervical Range of Motion (CROM-Perfomance Attainment Associates, St. Paul, MN, 55117, United States) device, which has clinical validity and reliability. The flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion and rotation angles of the cervical region were measured three times and averaged with the CROM device.

  Baseline

• Forward Head Posture

  The craniovertebral angle (CVA) was measured using a photometric method with the participants in a standing position. Prior to imaging, the C7 process and tragus were marked. A camera was placed 1.5 m from the lateral surface of the body at the level of the acromial process.

  Baseline

• Biomechanical Properties of Muscles

  The biomechanical properties of cervical muscles were assessed using the MyotonPRO, which quantifies tissue oscillations following a brief mechanical impulse to determine tone, stiffness, and elasticity. This method provides reliable interrater and intrarater measurements for cervical musculature when applied perpendicularly in a standardized supine position, as demonstrated in previous research. For each muscle, three consecutive measurements were recorded following established protocols for the sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius.The MyotonPro enables the assessment of various parameters, including the state of resting muscle tone (F), defined as the suppressed EMG signal, and dynamic stiffness (S). The basis of stiffness assessment using myotonometry is the theory of free oscillations, arising from the natural oscillations of tissues in response to brief mechanical exposure of the skin.

  Baseline

Study Arms (1)

Experimental Design

EXPERIMENTAL

The study was conducted as a single-blind experimental study. Since it was thought that mental functions might be affected, all the procedures to be applied were explained to the participants, and written informed consent was obtained, but the purpose and hypotheses were not explained. After the final assessment of the participants was completed, the purpose and hypotheses of this study were explained. The study was conducted between June 2024 and February 2025.

Other: Metal Fatigue Protocols

Interventions

Metal Fatigue Protocols OTHER

Metal Fatigue Protocols Participants used Instagram® for 30 minutes by browsing their personal feed with one-handed tapping and swiping gestures. They were allowed to scroll and like posts but were restricted from viewing stories or reels and from sharing any content.

Experimental Design

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 35 Years
• Sex: male
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Amateur athletes aged 18-35
• using social media via a smartphone
• actively participating in competitions

You may not qualify if:

• having a surgical operation or trauma related to the neck region, having any pathology in the neck region (neck cyst, tumours, haematoma, etc.), having a history of traumatic injury in the neck region, and having neurological and rheumatic diseases.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University: lead

Study Sites (1)

Health Sciencies

Bandırma, Balıkesir, 10200, Turkey (Türkiye)

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Mental Fatigue

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Fatigue; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Behavioral Symptoms; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SCREENING
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Asoc. Prof

Model Details: Some of the researchers (O.B.T., B.A., M.B.U.) performed all assessments. To avoid any bias, group information was kept confidential,and statistical analyses were performed by another researcher (A.K., B.Ç., A.G.).

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: March 22, 2025
• First Posted: December 4, 2025
• Study Start: June 1, 2024
• Primary Completion: December 20, 2024
• Study Completion: February 1, 2025
• Last Updated: December 4, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-11

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

TU (1)