Effect of Smart Phone Use on Handgrip Strength and Fatigue in Female College Students

Author

The Department of Rehabilitation Health Sciences, College of Applied Medical Sciences, King Saud University, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia

Abstract

Abstract Background: Smart phone is a device that combines mobile and cellular functions in one unit. Many smart phone users spend hours on the irphones every day that require esprolonged grips, repetitive motion on small buttons and awkwardwrist movement leading to hand, wrist and arm ailments. Aim of Study: To investigate the effect of smartphone overuse on handgrip strength. Material and Methods: One hundred and eighty-eight female college students of King Saud University were included in the study. The study was conducted between June 2016 and December 2018. They were divided into two groups: Smartphone users (n=103) and non-smartphone users (n=85), between the agerange, 18-25 years, were included. Their handgrip strength was measured usinga handheld dynamometer. Participants performed three maximum at tempts for each measurement, and the average value of three trials was taken. A few seconds of rest were given between each trial tominimize fatigue. We analyzed the difference between the groups using paired t-test. Results: No significant difference was found between theright and left hand's grip strengthson both groups (p>0.05). The fatigue evalues were also not significantly different (p>0.05). The significance level was set at p£0.05. Conclusion: High-frequency smartphone use did not affect the grip strength in female college students.

Keywords