Thesis (Ph.D)-Cairo University, 2024.

Bibliography: pages 88-95.

Background: The use of smartphone has been associated with upper back pain, scapular muscles weakness and increased thoracic kyphosis. Scapular stabilization exercises are used to reinforce the strength of scapular muscles strength which play important roles in maintaining normal scapular movements. Purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of scapular stabilization exercises on pain intensity level, scapular muscles strength (Serratus Anterior, Lower fibers of Trapezius, Rhomboid Major and Minor) and thoracic kyphosis index, at different daily duration use of smartphone, in smartphone users. Methods: The study is randomized pre- post measurements experimental controlled study. Eighty-eight, Right-handed participants with age range from 17 to 45 years, experienced at least 6 months of smartphone using with screen measured 5 inches in average were included. Each group received the intervention three times/week for four weeks. Participants in Groups A and B use smartphones more than four hours per day. Participants in Groups C and D used smartphones less than four hours per day. Group A: Participants received conventional physical therapy (posture correction exercise). Group B: Participants received posture correction and scapular stabilization exercises. Group C: Participants received conventional physical therapy intervention (posture correction exercise). Group D: Participants received posture correction and scapular stabilization exercises. Pain intensity level of the upper back, Scapular muscles strength and degree of thoracic kyphosis were measured by visual analogue scale, break test through handheld pull and push dynamometer and thoracic kyphosis index through elastic ruler respectively. Outcomes were measured pre and post intervention in each side. Results: Within Group results showed statistically significant difference in all measured outcomes in each group, except in left Lower Trapezius muscle strength in Group A. Post treatment comparison among groups for pain intensity level of the upper back showed no statistically significant difference between the four groups. Post treatment comparison among groups for scapular muscles strength and thoracic kyphosis index showed no statistically significant difference between A and C compared with B and D respectively (p->0.05), except that there was significance difference on strength of left Lower Trapezius and left Rhomboids muscles in A vs B and both sides Serratus Anterior muscle in C vs D (p-value < 0.05). Conclusion: The study indicates that addition of scapular stabilization to posture correction exercise have a beneficial impact on improving upper back pain, Scapular muscle strength and degree of thoracic kyphosis in smartphone users. Specifically, improvements were noted on the strength in the left Lower Trapezius, left Rhomboids and on both sides’ Serratus Anterior muscles with better outcome measures as a result of scapular stabilization exercises.

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Text in English and abstract in Arabic & English.