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CTRI Number  CTRI/2026/03/105659 [Registered on: 09/03/2026] Trial Registered Prospectively
Last Modified On: 08/03/2026
Post Graduate Thesis  Yes 
Type of Trial  Observational 
Type of Study   Cross Sectional Study 
Study Design  Other 
Public Title of Study   What is the Relationship Between Smartphone Screen Time and Neck Pain, Muscle Tiredness Around the Neck and Shoulders and Ability to Focus in University Students 
Scientific Title of Study   Association of Smartphone Usage Duration with Neck Pain, Muscle Endurance and Concentration Performance among University Students: A Cross-Sectional Study 
Trial Acronym  NIL 
Secondary IDs if Any  
Secondary ID  Identifier 
NIL  NIL 
 
Details of Principal Investigator or overall Trial Coordinator (multi-center study)  
Name  Dr Dishti Narang PT 
Designation  Post Graduate Student 
Affiliation  Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities (Divyangjan) 
Address  Department of Physiotherapy, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities (Divyangjan), 4, Vishnu Digamber Marg, New Delhi- 110002

New Delhi
DELHI
110002
India 
Phone  9599833554  
Fax    
Email  dishtinarang08@gmail.com  
 
Details of Contact Person
Scientific Query
 
Name  Dr Rajni Kalra PT 
Designation  Assistant Professor (PT) 
Affiliation  Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities (Divyangjan) 
Address  Department of Physiotherapy, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities (Divyangjan), 4, Vishnu Digamber Marg, New Delhi - 110002

New Delhi
DELHI
110002
India 
Phone  9990783664  
Fax    
Email  rajnikalra70@gmail.com  
 
Details of Contact Person
Public Query
 
Name  Dr Dishti Narang PT 
Designation  Post Graduate Student 
Affiliation  Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities (Divyangjan) 
Address  Department of Physiotherapy, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities (Divyangjan), 4, Vishnu Digamber Marg, New Delhi- 110002

New Delhi
DELHI
110002
India 
Phone  9990783664  
Fax    
Email  dishtinarang08@gmail.com  
 
Source of Monetary or Material Support  
Department of Physiotherapy, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities (Divyangjan), 4, Vishnu Digamber Marg, New Delhi, Delhi, 110002, India 
 
Primary Sponsor  
Name  Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities (Divyangjan) 
Address  4, Vishnu Digamber Marg, New Delhi, Delhi, 110002, India 
Type of Sponsor  Other [Rehabilitation and Academic Institute] 
 
Details of Secondary Sponsor  
Name  Address 
NIL  NIL 
 
Countries of Recruitment     India  
Sites of Study  
No of Sites = 1  
Name of Principal Investigator  Name of Site  Site Address  Phone/Fax/Email 
Dr Dishti Narang PT  Pandit Deendayal National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities  Room No. 21, Department of Physiotherapy, 4, Vishnu Digamber Marg, New Delhi-110002
New Delhi
DELHI 
9990783664

dishtinarang08@gmail.com 
 
Details of Ethics Committee  
No of Ethics Committees= 1  
Name of Committee  Approval Status 
Institutional Ethics Committee, Pandit Deendayal Upadhyaya National Institute for Persons with Physical Disabilities   Approved 
 
Regulatory Clearance Status from DCGI  
Status 
Not Applicable 
 
Health Condition / Problems Studied  
Health Type  Condition 
Healthy Human Volunteers  Individuals without any musculoskeletal injury, neurological disorder, or cardiovascular disease.  
 
Intervention / Comparator Agent  
Type  Name  Details 
Intervention  Nil  Nil 
 
Inclusion Criteria  
Age From  18.00 Year(s)
Age To  25.00 Year(s)
Gender  Both 
Details  Smartphone user for more than 1 year 
 
ExclusionCriteria 
Details  1. Prolonged use of other electronic devices (laptop, tablet, gaming console) more than 3 hours per day
2. Any neurological signs consistent with nerve root compression
3. Any upper extremity ROM limitation
4. Congenital deformities in the upper extremity and neck
5. Reported history of any serious pathology such as specific neck pain due to disc prolapse, tumour of cervical spine, whiplash injury, cervical fractures, cervicogenic headache
6. Any reported history of surgery in the neck, upper extremity
 
 
Method of Generating Random Sequence   Not Applicable 
Method of Concealment   Not Applicable 
Blinding/Masking   Not Applicable 
Primary Outcome  
Outcome  TimePoints 
1. Smartphone Usage Duration: In-built Screen Time Tracking App
2. Neck Muscle Endurance: Cranio-cervical Flexor test and Cervical Extensor Endurance Test
3. Scapular Muscle Endurance- Scapular Muscle Endurance Test 
Baseline 
 
Secondary Outcome  
Outcome  TimePoints 
Neck Pain- Visual Analogue Scale  Baseline 
Concentration Performance- d2 Attention Test  Baseline 
Smartphone addiction - Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS)  Baseline 
 
Target Sample Size   Total Sample Size="111"
Sample Size from India="111" 
Final Enrollment numbers achieved (Total)= "Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials"
Final Enrollment numbers achieved (India)="Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials" 
Phase of Trial   N/A 
Date of First Enrollment (India)   19/03/2026 
Date of Study Completion (India) Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials 
Date of First Enrollment (Global)  Date Missing 
Date of Study Completion (Global) Applicable only for Completed/Terminated trials 
Estimated Duration of Trial   Years="0"
Months="6"
Days="0" 
Recruitment Status of Trial (Global)   Not Applicable 
Recruitment Status of Trial (India)  Not Yet Recruiting 
Publication Details   N/A 
Individual Participant Data (IPD) Sharing Statement

Will individual participant data (IPD) be shared publicly (including data dictionaries)?  

Response - NO
Brief Summary  
      This study aims to examine the association between smartphone usage duration and neck pain, neck and scapular muscle endurance, and concentration performance among university students. With the increasing reliance on smartphones for academic, social, and recreational purposes, prolonged usage may contribute to musculoskeletal discomfort and reduced functional performance. This observational study will include university students who will be assessed for daily smartphone usage patterns using in-built screen tracking apps, neck pain intensity, neck and scapular muscle endurance, and concentration levels using standardized and validated tools. Informed consent from the participants will be ensured. Participants will be categorized based on smartphone usage duration to allow comparison between different usage groups- less than 4 hours and more than 4 hours of usage. Data will be recorded and analyzed using SPSS to see the relationship between variables. The findings are expected to provide insight into the potential impact of excessive smartphone use on musculoskeletal health as well as cognitive parameters, and may help in developing targeted interventions, preventive strategies, ergonomic interventions, awareness programs promoting healthy device use and encouraging students to be mindful of their posture and digital consumption habits. Ultimately, it aims to foster a more health-conscious and productive student community in an increasingly digital world. 

 

 
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