A postural re-education intervention using a wearable sensor for smartphone users with chronic neck pain

Grace Szeto, Rufina Lau, Jie Dai, Sharon Tsang
Purpose:

This project aimed to investigate whether the use of a wearable posture tracker can effectively lead to improved neck posture and reduced muscle activation during smartphone use and contribute to neck pain reduction. 

Methods:

The study involved a randomised control trial with 3 groups. Group 1 subjects were given a posture tracker to use at home for 2 hours a day for 6 weeks. Group 2 subjects were allocated with an electromyographic (EMG) biofeedback unit to use for 2 hours daily for 6 weeks. Group 3 is a control group with conventional neck mobilising exercises for the same period.

The 3 groups were compared at pre- and post-intervention on numerical neck pain scores and Neck Disability Index (NDI). These measures were also examined at a 6 months’ followup period to evaluate the long-term effects of the interventions. 


Results:

Results showed that the Postural Tracker produced decreased neck pain and NDI scores at post-intervention as well as at 6 months followup. The postural tracker group also showed significant reduction in neck muscle activity and improved neck flexion angle during smartphone use at post-intervention. These changes were significantly greater than those in the control group. EMG biofeedback was also able to produce similar effects on neck pain reduction, similar to that in the postural tracker group. 

Conclusion(s):

The present study has shown that the posture tracker can influence the spinal postural awareness and reduce the muscle activity related to holding the static neck flexion posture. Future studies can explore whether such devices can be adopted to use in other spinal regions as a tool for postural re-education. 

Implications:

Tele-health and self-management are the current trends in physiotherapy, especially since the COVID pandemics. The present study has demonstrated the effectiveness of using such devices to improve posture and reduce pain in patients with chronic neck pain related to smartphone use. These devices are economical and user-friendly, and may be an effective management option to train postural re-education in the management of chronic neck pain.



Funding acknowledgements:
This project has been funded by the Hong Kong Health & Medical Research Fund, No. 18191031
Keywords:
Neck pain
Posture
Biofeedback
Primary topic:
Musculoskeletal: spine
Second topic:
Occupational health and ergonomics
Third topic:
Pain and pain management
Did this work require ethics approval?:
Yes
Name the institution and ethics committee that approved your work:
Tung Wah College Research Ethics Committee
Provide the ethics approval number:
REC2021086
Has any of this material been/due to be published or presented at another national or international conference prior to the World Physiotherapy Congress 2025?:
No

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