Investigating the Effects of Smartphone Use on the Masseter Muscle

June 3, 2025 updated by: Hazel Çelik Güzel, Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University

Investigating the Short and Long-term Effects of Smartphone Use on the Masseter Muscle

The aim of this study was to determine the short- and long-term effects of smartphone use on the masseter muscle. In the short term, to investigate whether repetitive thumb movements during phone use will cause a spontaneous muscle activation and/or tenderness in the masseter muscle; in the long term, to investigate the relationship between strength change and tenderness of the tenar and masseter muscles depending on the intensity and duration of phone use.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Detailed Description

A total of 120 healthy university students aged 18-30 years at Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University will be included in our study. Descriptive data form, Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Form, Edinburg Hand Preference Inventory, pressure pain threshold, muscle activity, lateral grip strength, hand grip strength will be evaluated in the participant students.

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Actual)

105

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey
    • Bandirma
      • Balikesir, Bandirma, Turkey, 10200
        • Bandirma Onyedi Eylül University

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

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

University students

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Smartphone users students between the ages of 18-30 years
  • Students whose voluntary informed consent was obtained

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals undergoing masseter botox application
  • Individuals diagnosed with TMJ disorder and/or bruxism
  • Individuals with musculoskeletal problems with evidence of a systemic, specific pathologic condition such as fracture of the hand, finger, upper extremity and/or TMJ, rheumatoid disease
  • Individuals who have undergone any surgical operation related to hand, finger, upper extremity and/or TMJ problem
  • Individuals with less than 6 months of physiotherapy and rehabilitation services related to hand, finger, upper extremity and/or TMJ
  • Individuals with facial paralysis
  • Individuals with diagnosed psychiatric illness.

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

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form
Time Frame: 4 months
In our study, the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form will be filled out to evaluate the intensity of smartphone use of students, and the daily duration of smartphone use will be recorded. This scale consists of 10 6-point Likert-type items used to measure the risk of smartphone addiction. Scores on the scale range from 10-60, with an increase in score indicating an increased risk for smartphone addiction. The cut-off score of the scale was determined as 31 for men and 33 for women in the Korean sample.
4 months
Edinburg Hand Preference Inventory
Time Frame: 4 months
Edinburg Hand Preference Inventory will be used to determine the dominant hand in our study. This scale asks which hand is used while performing 10 activities such as "writing", "drawing", "brushing teeth", "holding a fork (while eating)". For each activity; left hand preference is -10 points, right hand preference is +10 points and both hand preference is 0 points. After hand preference for all activities, the highest score that individuals can get is +100 and the lowest score is -100. A "negative" score is in favor of "left-handedness" and a "positive" score is in favor of "right-handedness". According to this scoring, individuals with a score between "+40 and +100" are recorded as "right-handed", individuals with a score between "-30 and +30" as "two-handed", and individuals with a score between "-100 and -40" as "left-handed".
4 months
Pressure Pain Threshold Assessment
Time Frame: 4 months
In our study, pressure pain threshold measurement of the dominant and non-dominant side masseter and tenar muscles before and after the activity will be evaluated with Baseline manual algometer (2.5 kg-11 lb).
4 months
Muscle Activation Measurement
Time Frame: 4 months
In our study, a four-channel Neurotrac Myoplus Pro 4 EMG Biofeedback device will be used for superficial electromyographic (EMG) measurements of the masseter muscle. The results of electromyographic activity will be presented as both mean data (microvolts) and normalized mean data (%MVC- Maximum Voluntary Contraction). The mean, minimum and peak contraction values of the activation will be recorded, the variability of the activation produced will be evaluated with the Inter Quantile Range (IQR). The average muscle activations that will occur in the muscle will be used as %MVC.
4 months
Hand Grip Strength Assessment
Time Frame: 4 months
Hand grip strength will be measured with 'Saehan Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer'. A total of three measurements will be made for each hand with a 15 s break between each measurement of the extremity and the average of the three measurements will be taken. Test results will be recorded in kilograms.
4 months
Finger Lateral Grip Strength Assessment
Time Frame: 4 months
Hand grip strength will be measured with 'Saehan Hydraulic pinch gauge'. Three measurements will be made for each hand in total with a 30-second break between each measurement and the average of the three measurements will be recorded in kilograms.
4 months

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University

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 (Actual)

July 1, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

January 1, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

January 15, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 7, 2024

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 7, 2024

First Posted (Actual)

May 10, 2024

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 6, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 3, 2025

Last Verified

May 1, 2024

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2024-26

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

product manufactured in and exported from the U.S.

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.

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