ANALYSIS OF THE ASSOCIATION BETWEEN PROLONGED CELL PHONE USE AND BACK PAIN IN HIGH SCHOOL AND UNIVERSITY STUDENTS IN BRAZIL

ABSTRACT Objective: To verify the association between constant cell phone use and back pain among high school and university students in a municipality in the Baixada Santista Metropolitan Region, Brazil. Method: This study is a cross-sectional analysis of data collected during the 2021 academic year. We used questionnaires that collected demographic and socioeconomic data, as well as the SPAI-BR questionnaire, the Smartphone Addiction Inventory (SPAI), and the Neck Disability Index. A questionnaire was added covering screen time and the Young Spine Questionnaire (YSQ). The students’ nutritional status was also assessed, and the anteriorization of the right or left head in relation to the spinous process of the seventh cervical was measured. Results: 1627 students took part in the study, with an average age of 18.02 years. The prevalence of dependence on cell phone use was 63.5%, with the majority of dependents being younger than non-dependents. There was a higher prevalence of mid-back, neck, and lower back pain among addicts. Cell phone addicts are more likely to have neck, mid-back, and lower back pain, reports of back problems, disability, and obesity. Conclusion: The results of this study show that students who are dependent on their cell phones have a greater chance of neck pain, mid-back pain, lower back pain, reports of spinal problems, and inability to perform daily activities. Level of Evidence IV; Observational Study.