| dc.description.abstract | Long term usage of electronic devices
among undergraduates have become a growing
problem all around the world. Prolong usage of these
devices can result in malalignment of the normal
posture. Forward head posture (FHP) is known as
the commonest postural abnormality resulted due to
long term usage of smartphones and laptops. The
purpose of this study was to determine the
relationship between craniovertebral angle with
duration of smartphone and laptop usage among
undergraduates, Faculty of Allied Health Sciences,
General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University. This
is a descriptive cross sectional study. 228
undergraduates, within 19- 24 years of age, using
smartphones and laptops for more than 1 year were
recruited by the consecutive sampling method.
Those who had previous cervical injuries/congenital
deformities and who didn’t grant informed consent
were excluded. Self-administered questionnaire was
given to collect information. Craniovertebral Angle
was measured by lateral view photographs using
KINOVEA app. According to the results the mean
values of age, BMI and CVA were (21.83±1.57 years),
(22.86±4.39kg/m-2), (46.53±5.49degrees). Pearson
correlation coefficient was used to quantify the
linear relationship of CVA with duration of
smartphone, laptop usage and BMI. A statistically
significant negative correlation was obtained
between CVA and duration of smartphone usage (p =
0.033, r = -0.35), duration of laptop usage (p = 0.003,
r = -0.047) and BMI (p > 0.01, r = -0.55). Findings of
the study concluded that long term usage of
electronic devices could result in reducing the
craniovertebral angle. Furthermore, BMI has a
statistically significant negative relationship with
CVA. | en_US |
