Analysis of the relationship between the hours of use of a mobile device and physical changes in an urban population of 12 and 14 years old.

Ana Gastón-Faci, Lucía Adiego-Gastón, Carmen Vicente-García, Loreto Camarero-Grados, Fátima Méndez-López

Keywords: Postural attitudes; digital devices; sedentary lifestyle; clinical repercussions

Background:

The sedentary lifestyle in childhood has been increasing progressively over the last two decades, and the changes in posture and muscle tone have gone practically unnoticed. Postural attitudes considered pathological in the previous century are now so common that we do not even think that there may be a disease behind them. Many factors condition this decrease in physical activity, but the increase in hours of use of digital screens and mobile devices could be one of the most important.

Research questions:

The objective was to analyze the relationship between the hours of use of the mobile device and other digital devices with alterations in postural attitude (head forward, kyphosis and shoulders in internal rotation), as well as the prevalence of these postural alterations.

Method:

This is a first initial cross-sectional study in a Spanish population between 12 and 14 years old. The study will be carried out by taking advantage of the check-ups of the healthy child in the primary care pediatric consultation through an interview, physical examination of posture and a measurement of the percentage of muscle mass.

Results:

Interviews and physical examinations have been conducted on 210 children, with an average age of 12-14 years, with 54.9% males predominating. 96.1% of the sample has a cell phone, and the moderate use is 23.06 hours. There are 17.2% who do not do any exercise. Concerning posture, 63.8% of the sample presented a pathological posture, and 23.6% reported clinical symptoms.

Conclusions:

This study analyses a striking fact observed in pediatric consultations since the pandemic. It is planned to analyze the causality and possible clinical repercussions and to carry out future interventions in the sports, sociocultural field, and treatment with physiotherapy, depending on whether the intervention is preventive as a treatment.

Points for discussion:

Causality and possible clinical repercussions

Preventive actions

Future interventions in the sports

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