title: Texting on mobile phones and musculoskeletal disorders in young adults: A five-year cohort study.
abstract: The aim was to examine whether texting on a mobile phone is a risk factor for musculoskeletal disorders in the neck and upper extremities in a population of young adults. In a longitudinal population-based cohort study with Swedish young adults (aged 20-24 years) data were collected via a web-based questionnaire at baseline (n = 7092) and after one and five years. Cross-sectional associations were found between text messaging and reported ongoing symptoms in neck and upper extremities (odds ratios, ORs 1.3-2.0). Among symptom-free at baseline prospective associations were only found between text messaging and new cases of reported symptoms in the hand/fingers (OR 2.0) at one year follow up. Among those with symptoms at baseline prospective associations were found between text messaging and maintained pain in neck/upper back (OR 1.6). The results imply mostly short-term effects, and to a lesser extent, long-term effects on musculoskeletal disorders in neck and upper extremities.
authors.affiliation: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 414, SE-405 30, Göteborg, Sweden. Electronic address: ewa.gustafsson@amm.gu.se.
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Gustafsson
authors.affiliation: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 414, SE-405 30, Göteborg, Sweden. Electronic address: sara.thomee@amm.gu.se.
authors.forename: Sara
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Thomée
authors.affiliation: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 414, SE-405 30, Göteborg, Sweden. Electronic address: anna.ekman@gu.se.
authors.forename: Anna
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Grimby-Ekman
authors.affiliation: Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University of Gothenburg, Box 414, SE-405 30, Göteborg, Sweden. Electronic address: mats.hagberg@amm.gu.se.
authors.forename: Mats
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hagberg
mesh_terms: D040421:Cell Phone; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D059352:Musculoskeletal Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D019547:Neck Pain / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D010292:Paresthesia / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000209:etiology; D012307:Risk Factors; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden / Q000453:epidemiology; D060145:Text Messaging / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D034941:Upper Extremity; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Neck pain; SMS; Upper extremities