| 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
|
|
|
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
|
|
|
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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