Smartphone AddictionNCT07040267
Smartphone Addiction on the Biomechanical Properties of Thumb Muscles and Thumb Sensory Sensitivity
An observational study of Smartphone Addiction and Thumb Injury, run by Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
Trial 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… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Smartphone Addiction, Thumb Injury
- What is being tested?
- Thumb evaluations
- How many people
- 36 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTurkey (Türkiye)
- Study dates
- 1 Jul 2025to 1 Jul 2026
- Phase
- Observational
- Are there results?
- Not yet: the study is under way
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 30 years
- All sexes
- Adult
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.
Who may be able to join
- Aged 18-30 years
- Currently enrolled university students
- Regular smartphone users
Who cannot join
- 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
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Turkey (Türkiye)1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Esra Pehlivan
Istanbul, Üsküdar, 34668
ESRA PEHLİVAN, 02164189616, fztesrakambur@yahoo.com
About this study
Official title: Investigation of the Effect of Smartphone Addiction on the Biomechanical Properties of Thumb Muscles and Thumb Sensory Sensitivity in University Students
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.
Read the detailed description
This will be a prospective, non-randomized, controlled observational study designed to examine the impact of smartphone addiction on the neuromuscular and sensory function of the thumbs. A total of 36 university students aged 18 to 30 will be recruited and categorized into two groups based on their scores from the Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV): addicted and non-addicted.
Participants' weekly screen times will be recorded, and the smartphone applications used will be categorized. The MyotonPro™ device will be used to measure the biomechanical properties of three thumb muscles (abductor pollicis brevis, flexor pollicis brevis, and opponens pollicis) in both hands. Sensory function will be assessed bilaterally using the Baseline Aesthesiometer via two-point discrimination testing.
This study will evaluate whether significant biomechanical or sensory changes are observable among addicted users compared to non-addicted users, and whether screen time is correlated with any muscular or sensory outcomes.
- Conditions
- Smartphone Addiction, Thumb Injury
- Being tested
- Thumb evaluations
- Medical subject headings
- Internet Addiction Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Thumb evaluationsDiagnostic 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.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 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. Receives: 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. Receives: Diagnostic Test: Thumb evaluations |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
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.
Measured: Baseline
Secondary outcomes (2)
Baseline Aesthesiometer Sensory Assessment
This instrument will be used to evaluate thumb sensory sensitivity through two-point discrimination testing on both hands. Participants will be blindfolded during the procedure and tested at the distal phalanx of the thumb.
Measured: Baseline
Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV)
The Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV) is a validated self-report questionnaire developed to assess the risk of smartphone addiction, particularly in adolescents and young adults. It consists of 10 items, each rated on a 6-point Likert scale ranging from 1 (strongly disagree) to 6 (strongly agree). The total score ranges from 10 to 60, with higher scores indicating a greater risk of smartphone addiction.
Measured: Baseline
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted27 Jun 2025
- Study start1 Jul 2025
- Primary completion1 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion1 Jul 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Smartphone AddictionStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Saglik Bilimleri UniversitesiThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Observational
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, ESRA PEHLIVAN, Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07040267
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- Smartphone Addiction& Thumb-1
- Status last verified
- Jul 2025
- First submitted
- 18 Jun 2025
- Last updated
- 2 Jul 2025
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- Undecided
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 2 Jul 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Investigation of the Effect of Smartphone Addiction on the Biomechanical Properties of Thumb Muscles and Thumb Sensory Sensitivity in University Students
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07040267
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- Smartphone Addiction& Thumb-1
- Conditions
- Smartphone Addiction, Thumb Injury
- Study type
- Observational
- Recruitment status
- Recruiting
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (estimated)
- Lead sponsor
- Saglik Bilimleri UniversitesiUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Jul 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 1 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion
- 1 Jul 2026 (estimated)
- First posted
- 27 Jun 2025 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
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.
Detailed description
This will be a prospective, non-randomized, controlled observational study designed to examine the impact of smartphone addiction on the neuromuscular and sensory function of the thumbs. A total of 36 university students aged 18 to 30 will be recruited and categorized into two groups based on their scores from the Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV): addicted and non-addicted.
Participants' weekly screen times will be recorded, and the smartphone applications used will be categorized. The MyotonPro™ device will be used to measure the biomechanical properties of three thumb muscles (abductor pollicis brevis, flexor pollicis brevis, and opponens pollicis) in both hands. Sensory function will be assessed bilaterally using the Baseline Aesthesiometer via two-point discrimination testing.
This study will evaluate whether significant biomechanical or sensory changes are observable among addicted users compared to non-addicted users, and whether screen time is correlated with any muscular or sensory outcomes.
Study design
- Observational model
- Case-control
- Time perspective
- Prospective
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Smartphone-Addicted Group | – | Diagnostic Test: Thumb evaluationsThis 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. |
| Non-Addicted Control Group | – | Diagnostic Test: Thumb evaluationsThis 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. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 30 years
- Sex
- All
- Age groups
- Adult
- 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.
Key inclusion criteria (3 listed)
- Aged 18-30 years
- Currently enrolled university students
- Regular smartphone users
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- 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
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Thumb evaluationsThere 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. | Diagnostic test | Non-Addicted Control Group, Smartphone-Addicted Group |
Primary outcome
MyotonPro™ Muscle Assessment
Time frame: Baseline
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.
2 secondary outcomes
Baseline Aesthesiometer Sensory Assessment
Time frame: Baseline
Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Version (SAS-SV)
Time frame: Baseline
Results and safety
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 2 Jul 2025.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: Undecided
Related trials for Smartphone Addiction
RecruitingObservational study
The Association Between Smartphone Overuse and Mechanical Neck Pain Among Galala University Students
Mechanical Neck Pain, Forward Head Posture (FHP)
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Ecological Momentary Assessment of State-Dependent Decision-Making and Metacognition Across a Psychopathology Continuum
Depression, Anxiety
Not yet recruitingObservational study
Smartphone Addiction and Upper Extremity Sensorimotor Performance
Smartphone Addiction
Enrolling by invitationObservational study
Screen Addiction and Postoperative Pain
Pain, Postoperative
Recruiting
Sustaining Recovery for People on Opioid Agonist Treatment With Conversational Agents
Opioid Use Disorder
Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
An observational study of Smartphone Addiction and Thumb Injury, run by Saglik Bilimleri Universitesi at 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye).
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 3 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: looking for participants now, as of the sponsor's last update on 2 Jul 2025. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Turkey (Türkiye). Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
This study is still under way. Results are not available in the source record yet.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
Each site lists its own contact: choose the nearest one under Trial locations. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
MyotonPro™ Muscle Assessment (time frame: Baseline). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 2 Jul 2025.