The Effect of Smartphone Usage on the Upper Extremity Performance among Saudi Youth, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

The current study aims to investigate the effect of smartphones usage on the upper extremity performance among Saudi youth. A goniometer to measure the Range of Motion (ROM), the Smartphone Addiction Scale (SAS), McGill Pain scale and Chattanooga stabilizer were used to perform the current study on a sample of 300 university students from Al-Imam Mohammed bin Saud University. Results had shown that smartphone addiction is negatively correlated to the elbow flexion, shoulder flexion, shoulder extension, shoulder abduction, shoulder adduction, and both shoulder internal and external rotation. Furthermore, results had shown that McGill pain scores were positively correlated to elbow flexion, shoulder flexion, shoulder extension, shoulder abduction, shoulder adduction, and both shoulder internal and external rotation. The study had concluded that smartphone usage among Saudi youth is negatively affecting the upper extremity and causing a significant increase in the pain intensity. The study had recommended that there is an urgent need for a significant awareness campaign to warn the community regarding the impact of using smartphones for long periods of time.