Epidemiology of text neck syndrome: a study with social network users

Abstract

Objective: To present the clinical and epidemiological sociodemographic profile mapping of patients with Text Neck Syndrome (TNS) from the data that was collected from social media users. Methods: This observational, descriptive, and cross-sectional study was conducted with Instagram users and thematic groups interested in games. The users included in the study had complaints of pain or some discomfort in the cervical region. For the epidemiological study, it was collected the sociodemographic and economic data, the users’ profiles of electronic devices and text neck syndrome, postural assessment using the Nordic Musculoskeletal Questionnaire (NMQ), and pain level were collected by using the Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). Results: The socio demographic and economic profile of the social media participants was characterized by women (n= 172; 68.52%), single (n= 129; 51.39%), age 23-27 (n= 81; 32.27%), and who had a job (n= 139; 55.38%). Regarding epidemiology, participants reported using devices for more than 11 hours per day (n= 48; 19.12%) and feeling pain in the cervical region (n= 148; 58.96%). Conclusion: Together, the results obtained in the study indicate that there is an occurrence of pain and symptoms of (text neck syndrome) in social media users.