Comparison of Cervical and TMJ Parameters in Young Adults With and Without Text Neck Syndrome
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
Study Type
Enrollment (Estimated)
Participation Criteria
Eligibility Criteria
Ages Eligible for Study
Accepts Healthy Volunteers
Genders Eligible for Study
Sampling Method
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
How is the study designed?
Design Details
- Observational Models: COHORT
- Time Perspectives: CROSS_SECTIONAL
Cohorts and Interventions
Group / Cohort |
|---|
|
Text Neck Syndrome Group
|
|
Non-Text Neck Group
|
What is the study measuring?
Primary Outcome Measures
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
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
Sponsor
Study record dates
Study Major Dates
Study Start (Estimated)
Primary Completion (Estimated)
Study Completion (Estimated)
Study Registration Dates
First Submitted
First Submitted That Met QC Criteria
First Posted (Actual)
Study Record Updates
Last Update Posted (Actual)
Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria
Last Verified
More Information
Terms related to this study
Additional Relevant MeSH Terms
Other Study ID Numbers
- E-60116787-020-622674
Drug and device information, study documents
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product
Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product
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.