Comparison of Cervical and TMJ Parameters in Young Adults With and Without Text Neck Syndrome

September 26, 2026 updated by: Borna Farhoomand

Comparison of Physical Parameters Related to the Cervical Region and Temporomandibular Joint in Young Individuals With and Without Text Neck Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study

The aim of this cross-sectional study is to compare temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and cervical spine parameters between young university students aged 18-30 years with and without text neck syndrome, a modern overuse condition caused by prolonged digital device use and repetitive forward head flexion. Given the anatomical, biomechanical, and functional connections between the stomatognathic system and the cervical region, prolonged altered posture may contribute to TMJ dysfunction, pain, and altered physical metrics. Participants are categorized into two groups based on photographic and self-reported text neck severity (levels 3-4 for text neck vs. levels 1-2 for non-text neck) and evaluated across multiple physical parameters, including craniovertebral and cervicothoracic angles, active cervical and mandibular range of motion, cervical joint position sense, neck and TMJ pain intensity via Visual Analog Scale, TMJ dysfunction severity using the Turkish-validated Fonseca Questionnaire, static balance via the single-leg stance test, and dynamic balance via the Y Balance Test.

Study Overview

Status

Status

Indicates the current recruitment status or the expanded access status.
Not yet recruiting

Conditions

Conditions

The disease, disorder, syndrome, illness, or injury that is being studied. On ClinicalTrials.gov, conditions may also include other health-related issues, such as lifespan, quality of life, and health risks.

Study Type

Study Type

Describes the nature of a clinical study. Study types include interventional studies (also called clinical trials), observational studies (including patient registries), and expanded access.
Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

Enrollment

The number of participants in a clinical study. The "anticipated" enrollment is the target number of participants that the researchers need for the study.
80

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

The key requirements that people who want to participate in a clinical study must meet or the characteristics they must have. Eligibility criteria consist of both inclusion criteria (which are required for a person to participate in the study) and exclusion criteria (which prevent a person from participating). Types of eligibility criteria include whether a study accepts healthy volunteers, has age or age group requirements, or is limited by sex.

Ages Eligible for Study

1 year to 30 years (Child, Adult)

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

N/A

Genders Eligible for Study

All

Sampling Method

Non-Probability Sample

Study Population

The study population consists of young adult university students aged 18 to 30 years recruited from a university campus environment. Participants will be sampled from healthy undergraduate and graduate students who routinely use digital devices (such as smartphones and tablets) in their daily academic and personal activities.

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • University students aged between 18 and 24 years,
  • Group 1: Individuals with level 3 or level 4 text neck posture based on the self-reported posture assessment diagram,
  • Group 2: Individuals with level 1 or level 2 text neck posture based on the self-reported posture assessment diagram,
  • Being physically and mentally eligible to participate in the study,
  • Willingness to voluntarily participate and provide written informed consent prior to study enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria:

  • History of cervical spine surgery,
  • Ongoing orthodontic treatment,
  • Receiving medical treatment related to the neck or jaw region within the last 3 months,
  • Exposure to trauma related to the neck or jaw region within the last 3 months,
  • Presence of a diagnosed psychiatric disorder.

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Observational Models: COHORT
  • Time Perspectives: CROSS_SECTIONAL

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort

Group / Cohort

A group or subgroup of participants in an observational study that is assessed for biomedical or health outcomes.
Text Neck Syndrome Group
Non-Text Neck Group

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Primary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, the planned outcome measure that is the most important for evaluating the effect of an intervention/treatment. Most clinical studies have one primary outcome measure, but some have more than one.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Cervical Posture Angles
Time Frame: Baseline (at a single assessment point)
Baseline (at a single assessment point)
Cervical and Temporomandibular Joint Pain Intensity
Time Frame: Baseline (at a single assessment point).

Description: Will be evaluated using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS; 0 = no pain, 10 = worst imaginable pain) for neck pain and TMJ pain (at rest, during activity, and while chewing).
Baseline (at a single assessment point).
Cervical Range of Motion (CROM)
Time Frame: Baseline (at a single assessment point).

Description: Will be evaluated in degrees for active cervical flexion, extension, bilateral lateral flexion, and bilateral rotation using the CROM (Cervical Range of Motion) device.
Baseline (at a single assessment point).
Mandibular Range of Motion
Time Frame: Baseline (at a single assessment point).

Description: Will be measured in millimeters (mm) using a digital caliper and ruler for maximum mouth opening, right/left lateral movements, and protrusion.
Baseline (at a single assessment point).
Text Neck Posture Classification
Time Frame: Baseline (at a single assessment point).

Text neck posture will be assessed using both self-reported perception and standardized photographic analysis.
Baseline (at a single assessment point).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Secondary Outcome Measures

In a clinical study's protocol, a planned outcome measure that is not as important as the primary outcome measure for evaluating the effect of an intervention but is still of interest. Most clinical studies have more than one secondary outcome measure.
Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Severity
Time Frame: Baseline.

Description: Will be evaluated using the Turkish-validated Fonseca Questionnaire (10 items, total score 0-100; higher scores indicate greater TMD severity).
Baseline.
Cervical Joint Position Sense (JPS)
Time Frame: Baseline

Description: Will be evaluated in degrees using the CROM device across flexion-extension, lateral flexion, and rotation planes to measure absolute error from a target angle
Baseline
Static Balance
Time Frame: Baseline.

Description: Will be measured in seconds with eyes open and eyes closed on a firm surface.
Baseline.
Dynamic Balance Assessment using the Y Balance Test
Time Frame: Baseline
Baseline

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Sponsor

The organization or person who initiates the study and who has authority and control over the study.
Borna Farhoomand

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Estimated)

Study Start

The actual date on which the first participant was enrolled in a clinical study. The "anticipated" study start date is the date that the researchers think will be the study start date.
October 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

Primary Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention to collect final data for the primary outcome measure. Whether the clinical study ended according to the protocol or was terminated does not affect this date. For clinical studies with more than one primary outcome measure with different completion dates, this term refers to the date on which data collection is completed for all the primary outcome measures. The "anticipated" primary completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the primary completion date for the study.
November 30, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

Study Completion

The date on which the last participant in a clinical study was examined or received an intervention/treatment to collect final data for the primary outcome measures, secondary outcome measures, and adverse events (that is, the last participant's last visit). The "anticipated" study completion date is the date that the researchers think will be the study completion date.
December 28, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

First Submitted

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submitted a study record to ClinicalTrials.gov. There is typically a delay of a few days between the first submitted date and the record's availability on ClinicalTrials.gov (the first posted date).
September 22, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The date on which the study sponsor or investigator first submits a study record that is consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. The sponsor or investigator may need to revise and submit a study record one or more times before NLM's QC review criteria are met. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 26, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

First Posted

The date on which the study record was first available on ClinicalTrials.gov after National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review has concluded. There is typically a delay of a few days between the date the study sponsor or investigator submitted the study record and the first posted date.
October 1, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

Last Update Posted

The most recent date on which changes to a study record were made available on ClinicalTrials.gov. There may be a delay between when the changes were submitted to ClinicalTrials.gov by the study's sponsor or investigator (the last update submitted date) and the last update posted date.
October 1, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator submitted changes to a study record that are consistent with National Library of Medicine (NLM) quality control (QC) review criteria. It is the responsibility of the sponsor or investigator to ensure that the study record is consistent with the NLM QC review criteria.
September 26, 2026

Last Verified

Last Verified

The most recent date on which the study sponsor or investigator confirmed the information about a clinical study on ClinicalTrials.gov as accurate and current. If a study with a recruitment status of recruiting; not yet recruiting; or active, not recruiting has not been confirmed within the past 2 years, the study's recruitment status is shown as unknown.
September 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

Other Study ID Numbers

Identifiers or ID numbers other than the NCT number that are assigned to a clinical study by the study's sponsor, funders, or others. These numbers may include unique identifiers from other trial registries and National Institutes of Health grant numbers.
  • E-60116787-020-622674

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Cookie Settings

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. For more details carefully read our Privacy and Cookies Policy. ...>>>You can change your preferences or withdraw your consent at any time by deleting the cookies from your website or computer as described in the policy. Please accept it and choose your preferences by ticking the corresponding boxes in the "Manage Settings" section below. Please carefully read our Terms of Service before you proceed with using any part of this website.
«Manage Settings