Pain and Upper Extremity Function in Smartphone and Digital Game Addiction

May 24, 2026 updated by: Kubra Kardes, Istinye University

The Effects of Smartphone and Digital Game Addiction on Pain and Upper Extremity Function: A Comparative Study

With the expansion of technology-based applications, daily phone use has increased significantly. According to a 2020 study, phone use habits among young adults aged 18-34 increased by 38.1%, and the time spent on the phone exceeding one hour increased by 68%. Currently, there is no clear definition of smartphone "addiction" or smartphone use, but like other types of addiction, it refers to the effort to control smartphone habits that cause problems or distress in daily life. Recent studies have reported a correlation between excessive screen use and individuals' mental and physical health. Excessive use of phones and video games causes many negative effects, including attention deficit, inability to enjoy life, hyperactivity, depression, anxiety, pain, and functional loss.

Video games are a type of game played through an audiovisual device and can be story-based. While many video games improve players' critical thinking, strategic planning, and problem-solving skills, they can also cause musculoskeletal problems due to the long hours spent at the desk and the repetitive movements involved.

The human spine is a kinematic chain with all joints interconnected; this means that changes in other body parts, such as the increased head tilt while texting on a smartphone, can have significant effects on the entire spine. A 2023 study showed an increase in spinal curvature, particularly in the cervical region, as smartphone use time increased. A study in Korea linked smartphone use to increased pain in the neck, wrists, hands, shoulders, and back. Another significant problem for smartphone users and video game players is "text neck," which occurs from prolonged screen time. This causes tension in the cervical spine, leading to neck pain and stiffness.

Smartphone addiction leads to hand-related problems, primarily hand and wrist pain. Furthermore, excessive use of smartphones, game controllers, and joysticks can lead to repetitive strain injuries such as carpal tunnel syndrome. Prolonged phone use, repetitive movements, and uncomfortable hand positions during use cause inflammation of the muscles and tendons in the hands and wrists, leading to swelling, pain, and loss of function in these joints. Video games are played using devices such as computers, consoles, handheld computers, and smartphones. The continuous, repetitive, and uninterrupted movements performed while using these devices can lead to musculoskeletal disorders, particularly in the upper extremities. Prolonged playing of these games results in musculoskeletal problems such as carpal tunnel syndrome and tendinitis. Extensive studies have shown that individuals' pain and symptoms worsen after prolonged gaming sessions. However, to date, there has been no study comparing smartphone addicts and video game players.

The aim of this research is to compare individuals with smartphone addiction, those who play video games for extended periods, and those without these habits in terms of pain, posture, and upper extremity function.

Study Overview

Status

Recruiting

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Observational

Enrollment (Estimated)

60

Contacts and Locations

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

Study Contact

Study Locations

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

N/A

Sampling Method

Probability Sample

Study Population

The study will include 60 individuals: 20 with smartphone addiction (Group 1), 20 with digital game addiction (Group 2), and 20 without addiction (Group 3).

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Being between 18-45 years old
  • Volunteering to participate in the study

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Individuals who have undergone major surgery or trauma related to the musculoskeletal system, primarily the upper extremities and trunk
  • Individuals with neurological diseases
  • Individuals with active rheumatic diseases
  • Individuals with systemic diseases (diabetes, hypothyroidism, infection, malignancy, etc.)
  • Individuals with serious psychological problems (scoring 30 or higher on the BDE)
  • Individuals with contraindications to the assessment methods (acute inflammations, viral and bacterial infections, infectious diseases, fever, deep vein thrombosis, active malignant disease, aneurysms)
  • Obesity (BMI ≥ 30 kg/m2)

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

Cohorts and Interventions

Group / Cohort
Intervention / Treatment
Individuals with smartphone addiction
High smart phone addiction + low gaming addiction
Other: Assessment
Smartphone addiction and gaming addiction will be assessed using a scale.
Individuals with digital gaming addiction
High gaming addiction + low smart phone addiction
Other: Assessment
Smartphone addiction and gaming addiction will be assessed using a scale.
Healthy controls without addiction
Low smart phone addiction + low gaming addiction
Other: Assessment
Smartphone addiction and gaming addiction will be assessed using a scale.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
The Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form is a scale developed by Kwon, Kim, Cho, and Yang in 2013 to measure smartphone addiction. The scale consists of 10 items in total. The scale is evaluated using a 6-point Likert scale, and the total score obtained from the scale ranges from 10 to 60. As the score obtained from the scale increases, the risk of addiction is considered to increase. The cutoff scores are stated as 31 for men and 33 for women. The Turkish validity and reliability study of the scale was conducted by Noyan et al. in 2015.
4 weeks
Numeric Rating Scale
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Participants' pain level will be assessed using the Numeric Rating Scale. The scale is rated from 0 to 10, with 0 meaning "no pain" and 10 meaning "unbearable pain". Participants will be asked to rate their average pain level in the neck, shoulder, back, and upper extremity areas over the past 7 days.
4 weeks
Closed Kinetic Chain Upper Extremity Stability Test
Time Frame: 4 weeks
This test will be used to assess upper extremity stability, strength, and functional performance. Participants will place their hands on two designated lines in a push-up position, and the number of times they touch the opposite hand for 15 seconds will be recorded. The test will be administered three times, and the average number of repetitions will be used in the analysis.
4 weeks
Minnesota Manual Dexterity Test
Time Frame: 4 weeks
This test will be used to assess upper extremity dexterity, coordination, and motor performance. Participants will place discs as quickly as possible, and the total completion time will be recorded in seconds.
4 weeks
Medicine Ball Throw Test
Time Frame: 4 weeks
This test will be administered to assess upper extremity explosive power. Participants will throw a 3 kg medicine ball to the maximum distance while seated or standing. The distance achieved will be recorded in centimeters.
4 weeks
Reaction Rate Assessment
Time Frame: 4 weeks
Reaction time will be assessed in milliseconds via a web based application. Participants will be asked to respond to the color change as quickly as possible. Five repetitions will be performed, and the average reaction time will be used in the analysis.
4 weeks
Digital Game Addiction Scale
Time Frame: 4 weeks
This scale will be used to assess digital game addiction. The scale consists of 7 questions and is evaluated using a 5-point Likert scale. The total score indicates the severity of the addiction. Total scores on the Digital Game Addiction Scale range between 7 and 35, where higher scores indicate greater levels of addiction.
4 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

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

Sponsor

Istinye 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)

May 1, 2026

Primary Completion (Estimated)

July 1, 2026

Study Completion (Estimated)

July 15, 2026

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 1, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 1, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

May 7, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

May 27, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

May 24, 2026

Last Verified

May 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • 2025-193

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.

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