Can a smartphone app fix your text neck? new study says maybe.
NCT ID NCT07200752
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Aug 27, 2026 · Updated 2 times
Summary
This study tested whether doing neck exercises at home through video calls works as well as seeing a physiotherapist in person for text neck syndrome. Thirty-one university students with neck pain from smartphone use were split into two groups: one did exercises via telerehabilitation, the other with a therapist. Both groups improved their neck muscle endurance and reduced pain after six weeks.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- telerehabilitation-based neck exercise program
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could show that doing neck exercises at home via video calls works as well as seeing a physiotherapist in person for text neck syndrome.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, completed trial with only 31 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The study also did not measure long-term effects.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
-
Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
-
31 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
-
Jan 2025
- Finished
-
Aug 2025
- Lead sponsor
-
Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
-
18 to 24 years
- Sex
-
Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
-
Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Eligibility Criteria Inclusion Criteria: Participants will be eligible for inclusion if they meet all of the following criteria: Are between 18 and 24 years of age. Report smartphone use exceeding 3 hours per day. Present with at least three of the following symptoms: Neck pain Shoulder pain Upper back pain Headache Insomnia Tingling or numbness in the hands All participants will be screened for eligibility by a licensed physiotherapist, and only those who meet all inclusion and none of the exclusion criteria will be randomized. Exclusion Criteria: Participants will be excluded if they meet any of the following criteria: Have a known orthopedic or neurological condition. Have a history of recent cervical or spinal surgery. Have a diagnosed psychiatric disorder. Have any medical contraindication to performing physical activity or exercise.
Get updates
Get notified about this study
Sign up to get updates when this study changes or when new studies for Exercise are added.
Genom att skicka in godkänner du våra Användarvillkor
Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
-
Karabuk University
Karabük, Karabük Province, 78050, Turkey (Türkiye)
More trials for these conditions
Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
- Can a smartwatch predict which cancer patients return to hospital?
- Can exercise shield the eyes of glaucoma patients?
- Morning vs. evening workouts: does your clock change your blood?
- Can skater and sprinter moves straighten out text neck?
- 24 sensors map muscle oxygen after ACL surgery
- Can one workout change your gut bacteria?