Affiliations: [a] Department of Rehabilitation Therapy, Graduate School, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea | [b] Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Laboratory of Kinetic Ergocise Based on Movement Analysis, Yonsei University, Wonju, Korea | [c] Department of Physical Therapy, Graduate School of Medicine, Nagoya University, Aichi, Japan
Correspondence:
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Corresponding author: Oh-Yun Kwon, Department of Physical Therapy, College of Health Science, Laboratory of Kinetic Ergocise Based on Movement Analysis, Yonsei University, 1 Yeonsedae-gil, Heungeop-myeon, Wonju-si, Gangwon-do, 26493, Korea. Tel.: +82 33 760 2427; Fax: +82 33 760 2496; E-mail: kwonoy@yonsei.ac.kr.
Abstract: BACKGROUND: Due to the extended use of smartphones, people spend a lot of time on these devices while lying down. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to compare the differences in neck muscle activity of participants while they watched videos on a smartphone in four different lying positions (supine (SUP), prone on elbows (PE), side lying (SIDE), and 45∘ head turn while side lying (45-SIDE)). METHODS: Twenty-three healthy volunteers (22.4 ± 1.7 years) were enrolled in this study. We assessed the activities of their right and left sternocleidomastoid (SCM), anterior scalene, cervical erector spinae (CES), and upper trapezius (UT) muscles while they watched videos on a smartphone in four different lying positions. RESULTS: The right and left SCM and CES had significantly different muscle activities depending on the lying positions. The SCM activity had a significantly greater asymmetry in the 45-SIDE position, while the CES activity had a significantly greater asymmetry in the SIDE and 45-SIDE positions. Moreover, the UT activity had a significantly greater asymmetry in the SUP, PE, and SIDE positions. CONCLUSIONS: Neck muscle activity and asymmetry were the lowest in the SUP position relative to the other positions. Therefore, lying down in the SUP position may minimize neck muscle activation while using a smartphone.
