earticle

영어

Purpose: In this study, we investigated changes in lung capacity based on cervical and thoracic postures during smartphone use in adults. Methods: The study included 47 residents of Seongnam City (27 women and 20 men). Participants were instructed to perform the task in the normal sitting position without using a smartphone and in the sitting position while performing a two-handed video watching task on a smartphone. An iPhone application (Goniometer Pro) was used to measure the cervical and thoracic flexion angles to quantitatively assess participants’ range of cervical and thoracic flexion, and a spirometer was used to measure the vital capacity (peak expiratory flow [PEF]) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s [FEV1]) in all participants. Results: Cervical and thoracic flexion angles were significantly greater in the sitting position when using a smartphone than in the normal sitting position without using a smartphone (p<0.05). PEF and FEV1 values were significantly lower during sitting while using a smartphone than in the normal sitting position without using a smartphone (p<0.05). Conclusion: Our results suggest that frequent smartphone use while sitting may be a potential risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders and reduced lung function.