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Investigating the Effects of Smartphone Use on the Masseter Muscle

Investigating the Short and Long-term Effects of Smartphone Use on the Masseter Muscle

Status
Completed
Phases
Unknown
Study type
Observational
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT06408766
Enrollment
105
Registered
2024-05-10
Start date
2024-07-01
Completion date
2025-01-15
Last updated
2025-06-06

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Masseter Muscle Hypertrophy, Masseter Muscle Spasm, Smartphone Addiction

Keywords

Smartphone Addiction, masseter, thenar

Brief summary

The aim of this study was to determine the short- and long-term effects of smartphone use on the masseter muscle. In the short term, to investigate whether repetitive thumb movements during phone use will cause a spontaneous muscle activation and/or tenderness in the masseter muscle; in the long term, to investigate the relationship between strength change and tenderness of the tenar and masseter muscles depending on the intensity and duration of phone use.

Detailed description

A total of 120 healthy university students aged 18-30 years at Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University will be included in our study. Descriptive data form, Smartphone Addiction Scale - Short Form, Edinburg Hand Preference Inventory, pressure pain threshold, muscle activity, lateral grip strength, hand grip strength will be evaluated in the participant students.

Interventions

None listed

Sponsors

Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Observational model
CASE_ONLY
Time perspective
CROSS_SECTIONAL

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 30 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes

Inclusion criteria

* Smartphone users students between the ages of 18-30 years * Students whose voluntary informed consent was obtained

Exclusion criteria

* Individuals undergoing masseter botox application * Individuals diagnosed with TMJ disorder and/or bruxism * Individuals with musculoskeletal problems with evidence of a systemic, specific pathologic condition such as fracture of the hand, finger, upper extremity and/or TMJ, rheumatoid disease * Individuals who have undergone any surgical operation related to hand, finger, upper extremity and/or TMJ problem * Individuals with less than 6 months of physiotherapy and rehabilitation services related to hand, finger, upper extremity and/or TMJ * Individuals with facial paralysis * Individuals with diagnosed psychiatric illness.

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form4 monthsIn our study, the Smartphone Addiction Scale-Short Form will be filled out to evaluate the intensity of smartphone use of students, and the daily duration of smartphone use will be recorded. This scale consists of 10 6-point Likert-type items used to measure the risk of smartphone addiction. Scores on the scale range from 10-60, with an increase in score indicating an increased risk for smartphone addiction. The cut-off score of the scale was determined as 31 for men and 33 for women in the Korean sample.
Edinburg Hand Preference Inventory4 monthsEdinburg Hand Preference Inventory will be used to determine the dominant hand in our study. This scale asks which hand is used while performing 10 activities such as writing, drawing, brushing teeth, holding a fork (while eating). For each activity; left hand preference is -10 points, right hand preference is +10 points and both hand preference is 0 points. After hand preference for all activities, the highest score that individuals can get is +100 and the lowest score is -100. A negative score is in favor of left-handedness and a positive score is in favor of right-handedness. According to this scoring, individuals with a score between +40 and +100 are recorded as right-handed, individuals with a score between -30 and +30 as two-handed, and individuals with a score between -100 and -40 as left-handed.
Pressure Pain Threshold Assessment4 monthsIn our study, pressure pain threshold measurement of the dominant and non-dominant side masseter and tenar muscles before and after the activity will be evaluated with Baseline manual algometer (2.5 kg-11 lb).
Muscle Activation Measurement4 monthsIn our study, a four-channel Neurotrac Myoplus Pro 4 EMG Biofeedback device will be used for superficial electromyographic (EMG) measurements of the masseter muscle. The results of electromyographic activity will be presented as both mean data (microvolts) and normalized mean data (%MVC- Maximum Voluntary Contraction). The mean, minimum and peak contraction values of the activation will be recorded, the variability of the activation produced will be evaluated with the Inter Quantile Range (IQR). The average muscle activations that will occur in the muscle will be used as %MVC.
Hand Grip Strength Assessment4 monthsHand grip strength will be measured with 'Saehan Hydraulic Hand Dynamometer'. A total of three measurements will be made for each hand with a 15 s break between each measurement of the extremity and the average of the three measurements will be taken. Test results will be recorded in kilograms.
Finger Lateral Grip Strength Assessment4 monthsHand grip strength will be measured with 'Saehan Hydraulic pinch gauge'. Three measurements will be made for each hand in total with a 30-second break between each measurement and the average of the three measurements will be recorded in kilograms.

Countries

Turkey (Türkiye)

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026