To compare the effectiveness of telerehabilitation exercise program with that of supervised in-person physiotherapy in improving neck muscle endurance, pain intensity, and functional disability in university students with text neck syndrome. Methods: A randomized controlled trial was conducted with 31 university students aged 18-24 diagnosed with text neck syndrome. Participants were randomly assigned to either a telerehabilitation group or a supervised in-person exercise group. Both groups received an identical six-week exercise program, delivered three times per week, including stretching, range of motion, isometric, and postural correction exercises with progressive intensity. Primary outcomes included deep cervical flexor and extensor muscle endurance. Secondary outcomes were neck pain intensity and functional disability. Assessments were performed at baseline and post-intervention.
Introduction Text Neck Syndrome, also known as turtle neck posture, is a repetitive stress injury of the neck associated with prolonged use of handheld electronic devices that disrupts cervical spine alignment and function. When users maintain a forward head posture, particularly while using smartphones, this can lead to upper back discomfort, muscle spasms, shoulder stiffness, and cramps due to increased mechanical load on cervical tissues. The term Text Neck was introduced to describe this phenomenon. Biomechanical modeling has shown that as cervical flexion increases, the mechanical load on the cervical spine rises substantially, which can encourage loss of the natural cervical curvature and promote kyphotic changes in the upper thoracic spine. These postural alterations may destabilize ergonomics and contribute to musculoskeletal dysfunction. If left untreated, text neck posture may result in long-term structural changes, including vertebral misalignment, neuromuscular impairment, and chronic pain syndromes. Additionally, abnormal head posture is associated with impaired proprioception, increased postural sway, and reduced balance control. Telerehabilitation, defined as the delivery of therapeutic interventions through digital platforms, offers a promising alternative to in-person therapy by overcoming barriers related to distance, mobility, and cost. Its widespread adoption during the COVID-19 pandemic demonstrated that remotely supervised neck exercise programs can produce results comparable to traditional care for chronic neck pain. Telerehabilitation has been associated with reduced pain intensity, improved physical function, and enhanced quality of life in individuals experiencing neck pain.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
NONE
Enrollment
31
Participants received a 6-week Telerehabilitation exercise program delivered via video calls and digital platforms, three sessions per week. The program included stretching, active range of motion, isometric strengthening, and postural correction exercises with progressive intensity.
Participants received the same 6-week exercise program as the Telerehabilitation group, but delivered face-to-face in a supervised clinical setting by a physiotherapist, three sessions per week.
Karabuk University
Karabük, Karabük Province, Turkey (Türkiye)
The Extensor Endurance Test
The Extensor Endurance Test was conducted in prone position, with the participant asked to hold the head in a neutral position with the chin tucked. Time to fatigue (in seconds) was recorded for both tests
Time frame: baseline, immediately after the intervention
The Neck Flexor Endurance
The Neck Flexor Endurance Test was performed in a semi-supine position, with the participant instructed to lift and hold the head at 2.5 cm above the table surface until fatigue
Time frame: baseline, immediately after the intervention
Neck Disability Index
The NDI consisted of 10 items assessing neck-related functional limitations, with a maximum score of 50, higher scores indicating greater disability.
Time frame: baseline, immediately after the intervention
Numeric Rating Scale
The NRS ranged from 0 (no pain) to 10 (worst imaginable pain) and was administered pre- and post-intervention.
Time frame: baseline, immediately after the intervention
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