A Study on Head Flexion During Mobile Device Usage: An Examination of Sitting, Standing, and Lying Down Positions

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of mobile device screen size and different positions on head posture. Participants’ angle of head flexion was measured when they were sitting, lying on their back, and standing while using mobile devices of different sizes. Results showed that participants had a greater head flexion when standing compared to both sitting and lying down. However, there were no significant differences in head flexion while participants used mobile devices of different sizes. There were no sex differences in the sitting and standing conditions. For lying down, females had a significantly greater angle of head flexion compared to males. Future research should examine sex differences in physical body structure to have a better understanding of the physical complications associated with device usage. Consumers should be advised how certain positions lead to greater head flexion, which could lead to greater musculoskeletal pain.