Mechanical Neck Pain, Forward Head Posture (FHP), Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS)CFME/ CVA/ UCSNCT07879313
The Association Between Smartphone Overuse and Mechanical Neck Pain Among Galala University Students
An observational study of Mechanical Neck Pain, Forward Head Posture (FHP), Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS), run by Cairo University at 1 site in Egypt.
Trial summary
This study explores the relationship between smartphone overuse and mechanical neck pain among university students offers key value for health promotion in academic settings by developing targeted strategies and preventive measures to reduce neck pain. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 25 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Mechanical Neck Pain, Forward Head Posture (FHP), Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS)
- How many people
- 36 participants
- Where
- 1 siteEgypt
- Study dates
- 8 Jun 2026to 30 Nov 2026
- Phase
- Observational
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 25 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult
Study population: A sample size of 36 participants will be established based on a prior power analysis using G*Power software for a Pearson correlation test (effect size = 0.43, á= 0.05, power = 0.80). Thus, 36 male and female students between the ages of 18 and 25 will be selected from Galala University as a convenience sample.
Who may be able to join
- Undergraduate students, who have mechanical neck pain for at least three months and actively used smartphones every day and will be able to safely assume a supine position without severe discomfort.
Who cannot join
- Undergraduate students with a history of cervical spine surgery, severe neck or shoulder trauma, diagnosed neurological disorders, or any musculoskeletal or cardiorespiratory disease requiring hospital admission in the past year will be excluded to ensure data validity (Elvan et al., 2024). Additionally, students who will be actively using drugs that are known to alter posture or musculoskeletal discomfort (such as sedatives or analgesic medicines) or who will having an acute episode of neck pain on the day of the evaluation will be excluded.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country. Contact the study team or a site near you to ask about taking part.
Egypt1 site, 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Galala University
Cairo, 11775
Shreen Ahmed Lashien, Ph.D., 01090913270, lasheensh2020@gmail.com
Shreen Ahmed Lashien, Ph.D.
About this study
Official title: The Association Between Smartphone Overuse and Mechanical Neck Pain Among Galala University Students.
This study explores the relationship between smartphone overuse and mechanical neck pain among university students offers key value for health promotion in academic settings by developing targeted strategies and preventive measures to reduce neck pain. It equips healthcare professionals and educators with evidence-based recommendations.
Read the detailed description
This study to investigate the association between smartphone overuse and mechanical neck pain severity among Galala University students aged 18-24 years. In addition, exploring the factors linked to smartphone usage and neck pain, and how these factors affect neck pain intensity.
Thirty-six participants aged 18-25 years diagnosed with mechanical neck pain caused by daily smartphone overuse will be recruited. Their neck pain intensity will be evaluated using 11-point Numerical Rating Scale (NRS-11). Smartphone addiction risk will be assessed using Smartphone Application-based Addiction Scale (SABAS). An in-person clinical testing will be performed to evaluate the participants' cervical muscles endurance using Cervical Flexor Muscle Endurance (CFME) Test.
Phase 1 of the study will be a digital screening survey, and Phase 2 will be an in-person physical evaluation of cervical muscular endurance.
- Keywords
- Mechanical Neck Pain, Smartphone Overuse, Neck Pain Intensity, Smartphone Addiction, Cervical Muscles Endurance
- Medical subject headings
- Oculocerebral hypopigmentation syndrome type Preus, Internet Addiction Disorder
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| 36 male and female students between the ages of 18 and 25 will be selected from Galala University. | A sample size of 36 participants established based on a prior power analysis using G*Power software for a Pearson correlation test (effect size = 0.43, α= 0.05, power = 0.80). Thus, 36 male and female students between the ages of 18 and 25 will be selected from Galala University. Inclusion Criteria: undergraduate students with mechanical neck pain for at least three months and actively used smartphones every day and will be able to safely assume a supine position without severe discomfort. Exclusion Criteria: Students with a history of cervical spine surgery, severe neck or shoulder trauma, diagnosed neurological disorders, or any musculoskeletal or cardiorespiratory disease requiring hospital admission in the past year will be excluded to ensure data validity (Elvan et al., 2024). Additionally, students who will be actively using drugs that are known to alter posture or musculoskeletal discomfort (such as sedatives or analgesic medicines). |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Evaluation of Neck Pain Intensity
The Arabic version of the 11-point Numerical Rating Scale (NRS-11) will be used to gauge the degree of neck pain. The range of the scale is 0 ("No pain") to 10 ("Very much pain"). In Arabic-speaking populations, the translated Arabic NRS-11 has shown a high test-retest reliability of 0.86 and significant construct validity (Finianos et al., 2022).
Measured: Three weeks
Secondary outcomes (2)
Assessment of Smartphone Addiction Risk
The Arabic version of the Smartphone Application-Based Addiction Scale (SABAS) will be used to assess the risk of smartphone addiction. Using a 6-point Likert scale (from 1 = strongly disagree to 6 = strongly agree), this short, 6-item test evaluates the fundamental characteristics of addiction. The total score ranges from 6 to 36. Particularly among university students who know Arabic, this Arabic adaption demonstrates acceptable internal consistency and convergent validity (Vally \& Alowais, 2022).
Measured: Three weeks
Cervical Flexor Muscle Endurance (CFME)
The individual will be placed in a supine, crook-lying position to test their deep cervical flexor endurance. The participants will be told to raise their heads about 2.5 cm off the plinth while doing a craniocervical flexion, sometimes known as a chin tuck. The test will be timed in seconds and ended if the participant's head touched the examiner's hand for more than a second or if the chin's skin folds split (Elvan et al., 2024). The established normative baseline values for healthy young adults using this protocol are 39 seconds for males and 29 seconds for females (Domenech et al., 2011).
Measured: Three weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted16 Oct 2026
- Study start8 Jun 2026
- Primary completion20 Nov 2026 (estimated)
- Study completion30 Nov 2026 (estimated)
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (2)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Mechanical Neck Pain, Forward Head Posture (FHP), Upper Cross Syndrome (UCS)Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Cairo UniversityThe 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
- Other
- Time perspective
- Cross-sectional
- Enrolment
- 36 participants (estimated)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Cairo University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Shreen Lashien, Galala University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07879313
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- P.T.REC/012/006586
- Acronym
- CFME/ CVA/ UCS
- Status last verified
- Oct 2026
- First submitted
- 10 Oct 2026
- Last updated
- 16 Oct 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No: According to the ethics requirements prior to participation, each subject will be given a digital consent after being informed of the study's objectives. A written informed consent form will be signed by each participant before any assessment will be taken place. All data will be collected and will be stored confidentially, with participant identities will be replaced by coded identifiers in the dataset.
Publications
Elvan A, Cevik S, Vatansever K, Erak I. The association between mobile phone usage duration, neck muscle endurance, and neck pain among university students. Sci Rep. 2024 Aug 29;14(1):20116. doi: 10.1038/s41598-024-71153-4.
PubMed 39209955Finianos J, Sanchez-Rodriguez E, Ferrando PJ, Miro J. Translation, adaptation and psychometric properties of the Arabic version of the numerical rating scale when used with children and adolescents. Curr Med Res Opin. 2022 Jun;38(6):963-969. doi: 10.1080/03007995.2022.2042973. Epub 2022 Mar 17.
PubMed 35166145