Abstract

Objectives: This study aimed to determine the prevalence and knowledge of text neck syndrome (TNS) among adults in the general population.
Methods: This study was a cross-sectional study, conducted from August 2022 to July 2023, involving the general population in Saudi Arabia. Participation was voluntary, with individuals aged 18 years and above, who agreed to participate in the study. Data collection employed a meticulously validated online questionnaire, and 906 participants completed the survey.
Results: The study findings indicated that a substantial proportion of smartphone users (n = 486, 53.6%) reported experiencing neck pain during mobile phone use, signifying a remarkably high prevalence of TNS. Surprisingly, only a modest percentage of (n = 185, 20.4%) had prior knowledge of this syndrome. Diagnosis rates were notably low, with only 43 (4.7%) had been diagnosed with TNS. Additionally, a significant portion of individuals (n = 363, 40.1%) reported experiencing mild headaches while using their phones, emphasizing the impact on both the frequency and severity of headaches. Notably, 816 (90.1%) participants acknowledged the need to reduce smartphone usage for health reasons. However, approximately 45% of participants continued to use their smartphones for more than 5 hours. The study also identified a statistically significant relationship between pain severity and neck position (p = 0.002).
Conclusion: This research explores the prevalence of TNS and its ramifications on neck pain and headaches among smartphone users in Saudi Arabia. The study underscores the limited awareness surrounding TNS, leading to insufficient acknowledgment and diagnosis.

Key words: Text neck syndrome, neck position, neck pain, prevalence, knowledge