COMPARISON OF RAPID UPPER LIMB ASSESSMENT AND NECK DISABILITY INDEX IN ERGONOMIC RISK SCREENING FOR TEXT NECK SYNDROME AMONG ADOLESCENTS IN GUJARAT

BACKGROUND: Text Neck Syndrome (TNS) is an emerging musculoskeletal condition associated with sustained forward head posture during smartphone use. Adolescents, due to high digital dependency, are at particular risk of cervical dysfunction. While the Rapid Upper Limb Assessment (RULA) objectively evaluates ergonomic posture, the Neck Disability Index (NDI) quantifies self-perceived disability. Their combined utility in adolescent populations remains underexplored. b To compare outcomes of RULA and NDI in assessing ergonomic risk and functional disability related to TNS among adolescents in Gujarat, India. METHOD: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 97 undergraduate students (aged 18–25 years) with ≥2 hours/day smartphone use for at least six months. RULA scores were obtained from posture recordings during texting, while participants completed the NDI questionnaire in English or Gujarati. Descriptive statistics summarized demographic and outcome variables. Pearson’s correlation coefficient determined the relationship between RULA and NDI scores, with significance set at p < 0.05. RESULT: Participants (mean age 20.4 ± 1.8 years; 43.3% male, 56.7% female) reported average smartphone use of 4.8 ± 1.2 hours/day. Mean RULA score was 4.2 ± 1.0, placing most (59.8%) in the medium-risk category. Mean NDI score was 12.6 ± 4.9, indicating mild disability for the majority (66.0%). Pearson’s correlation revealed a weak, non-significant positive association between RULA and NDI scores (r = 0.21, p = 0.06). CONCLUSION: Adolescents demonstrated medium ergonomic risk and mild neck disability, with weak correlation between RULA and NDI. These findings suggest the tools measure distinct domains. Incorporating both objective and subjective assessments may improve screening and guide early ergonomic interventions for TNS prevention. Keywords: Text Neck Syndrome; Adolescents; Smartphone Use; Rapid Upper Limb Assessment; Neck Disability Index; Ergonomic Risk Assessment