Prevalence of Text Neck Between Different Female Students at Taibah University, Saudi Arabia; Cross Section Design

Abdulrhman Mashabi; Walaa Ragab; Ghaida Alrayes; Joud Amoudi; Soundos Tokhta; Ghaida Bashawri; Ruqayyah Alqaznili; Jana Ghaith; Lama Almadani; Marwan M A Aljohani; Abdullah Al-Shenqiti

doi:10.3390/healthcare13060651

Prevalence of Text Neck Between Different Female Students at Taibah University, Saudi Arabia; Cross Section Design

Healthcare (Basel). 2025 Mar 17;13(6):651. doi: 10.3390/healthcare13060651.

Affiliation

¹ Department of Physical Therapy, College of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences, Taibah University, Al-Madinah Al-Munawarah 42353, Saudi Arabia.

Abstract

Background: Text neck is a common postural malalignment that significantly affects daily activities. Reliable and user-friendly assessment tools are essential for physiotherapists, and evaluating text neck prevalence in both sitting and standing positions is crucial for effective rehabilitation. This study aimed to compare text neck prevalence between students in practical and non-practical disciplines using multiple assessment methods. Methodology: A total of 82 female students (18-24 years) from Taibah University participated. The practical group included students from the Colleges of Medical Rehabilitation Sciences and Applied Medical Sciences, who engage in hands-on learning. The non-practical group consisted of Business Administration students, whose coursework is primarily theoretical. Text neck was assessed using observational methods, tragus to wall distance (TWD), craniovertebral angle (CVA) via a smartphone application, and PostureCo in both sitting and standing positions. Results: Observational assessment showed text neck prevalence of 95.5% in the non-practical group and 70% in the practical group while sitting, and 91% versus 80% while standing. Based on TWD, prevalence was 48% in non-practical students and 32% in practical students. Using Physiomaster, prevalence was 71% in standing and 54% in sitting for non-practical students, compared to 39% and 14%, respectively, for practical students. Significant differences were found between groups in sitting (p < 0.002) and standing (p < 0.001) using TWD, and in CVA measurements (p < 0.0001). Conclusions: Text neck is more prevalent among non-practical students, while practical students exhibit milder cases. Both sitting and standing assessments are essential for accurate diagnosis and rehabilitation planning. Future studies should analyze the accuracy of various measurement tools to identify the most precise methods for assessing text neck prevalence, taking into consideration both sitting and standing positions.

Keywords: CVA; PostureCo; text neck; tragus to wall distance.