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Analysis of a customized cervical collar to improve neck posture during smartphone usage: a comparative study in healthy subjects

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Abstract

Purpose

A slouching posture during smartphone usage increases gravitational loadings on the cervical spine, which may lead to neck pain and degeneration. The objective of the present study was to investigate the head, neck and trunk angles in different smartphone-usage postures, as well as the posture-correction effects and comfort scores of three neck collars.

Methods

This was a prospective cohort study in which 41 healthy young subjects aged 18–25 were recruited. The head, neck and trunk angles were measured in all participants during a neutral position and three smartphone-using postures, including sitting with and without back support and standing. The postural correction and comfort scores of three collars (Aspen Vista, Sport-aid and our customized 3D printed collars) were compared.

Results

Smartphone use increased the head and neck flexion angles in all postures, and sitting without back support showed the greatest head and neck flexion angles. The posture-correcting effect of the customized collar was better than the Aspen Vista and Sport-aid collars. In addition, the customized collar was more comfortable to wear than the other two collars in most contact areas.

Conclusion

Smartphone use increased both the head and neck flexion in different postures, and the proposed customized 3D-printed cervical collar significantly reduced the head and neck angles.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to acknowledge the funding support from Taiwan Ministry of Science and Technology (MOST 105-2218-E-006-006, MOST 106-3114-E-006-010, MOST 106-2314-B-039 -038).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University, No. 138, Sheng-Li Road, Tainan, 70428, Taiwan

    Yuh-Ruey Kuo & Cheng-Li Lin

  2. Department of Mechanical Engineering, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

    Jing-Jing Fang & Chi-Tse Wu

  3. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Tainan Municipal An-Nan Hospital, China Medical University, Tainan, Taiwan

    Ruey-Mo Lin

  4. Department of Statistics, National Cheng Kung University, Tainan, Taiwan

    Pei-Fang Su

  5. Medical Device R & D Core Laboratory, National Cheng Kung University Hospital, Tainan, Taiwan

    Cheng-Li Lin

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  1. Yuh-Ruey Kuo
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  4. Ruey-Mo Lin
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Correspondence to Cheng-Li Lin.

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The authors Kuo and Fang contributed equally to this research, and both are first coauthors.

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Kuo, YR., Fang, JJ., Wu, CT. et al. Analysis of a customized cervical collar to improve neck posture during smartphone usage: a comparative study in healthy subjects. Eur Spine J 28, 1793–1803 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-019-06022-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-019-06022-0

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