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Completed

NCT Number: NCT07263334

Does Mental Fatigue Caused by Social Media Use Affect Biomechanical Properties of Muscles in Young Male Athletes?

The aim of this study is to examine the effect of mental fatigue (MF) induced by 30 minutes of social media use on neck kinematics and neck muscle biomechanical properties in young male athletes. Twenty-five participants are enrolled in a single-blind cross-sectional design. Baseline and post-MF assessments include cervical range of motion measured with a CROM device, forward head posture evaluated using craniovertebral angle analysis, and muscle tone, stiffness, and elasticity measured with MyotonPRO. MF is induced through 30 minutes of Instagram® use on a smartphone and quantified with a 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). No results or conclusions are provided in this section.

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Key information

Conditions

Mental Fatigue Behavior Behavioral Symptoms Cervical Range of Motion Fatigue Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Socail Media Usage

Age range

18 year–35 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Health Sciencies

Bandırma, Balıkesir, 10200, Turkey (Türkiye)

About this study

The aim of this study is to investigate the effect of mental fatigue (MF) induced by 30 minutes of social media use on neck kinematics and the biomechanical properties of the neck muscles [upper trapezius, sternocleidomastoid (SCM), semispinalis (SS), and splenius capitis (SC)] in young male athletes. Twenty-five young male athletes are enrolled in a single-blind cross-sectional study. Participants undergo assessments at baseline and again following MF induction. These assessments include cervical range of motion (CROM) measured with a validated CROM device, forward head posture (FHP) evaluated via craniovertebral angle (CVA) photometric analysis, and muscle biomechanical properties (tone, stiffness, elasticity) measured using the MyotonPRO device. Mental fatigue is induced through 30 minutes of Instagram use on a smartphone. MF severity is assessed using a 100-mm Visual Analogue Scale (VAS). No results or conclusions are reported in this section.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Amateur athletes aged 18-35
  • using social media via a smartphone
  • actively participating in competitions

Exclusion criteria

  • having a surgical operation or trauma related to the neck region, having any pathology in the neck region (neck cyst, tumours, haematoma, etc.), having a history of traumatic injury in the neck region, and having neurological and rheumatic diseases.

Treatment and study plan

Metal Fatigue Protocols

Other

Metal Fatigue Protocols Participants used Instagram® for 30 minutes by browsing their personal feed with one-handed tapping and swiping gestures. They were allowed to scroll and like posts but were restricted from viewing stories or reels and from sharing any content.

Primary outcomes

  1. Range of Motion of the Neck

    Time frame: Baseline

    The normal joint motion of the cervical region was evaluated with the Cervical Range of Motion (CROM-Perfomance Attainment Associates, St. Paul, MN, 55117, United States) device, which has clinical validity and reliability. The flexion, extension, right and left lateral flexion and rotation angles of the cervical region were measured three times and averaged with the CROM device.

  2. Forward Head Posture

    Time frame: Baseline

    The craniovertebral angle (CVA) was measured using a photometric method with the participants in a standing position. Prior to imaging, the C7 process and tragus were marked. A camera was placed 1.5 m from the lateral surface of the body at the level of the acromial process.

  3. Biomechanical Properties of Muscles

    Time frame: Baseline

    The biomechanical properties of cervical muscles were assessed using the MyotonPRO, which quantifies tissue oscillations following a brief mechanical impulse to determine tone, stiffness, and elasticity. This method provides reliable interrater and intrarater measurements for cervical musculature when applied perpendicularly in a standardized supine position, as demonstrated in previous research. For each muscle, three consecutive measurements were recorded following established protocols for the sternocleidomastoid and upper trapezius.The MyotonPro enables the assessment of various parameters, including the state of resting muscle tone (F), defined as the suppressed EMG signal, and dynamic stiffness (S). The basis of stiffness assessment using myotonometry is the theory of free oscillations, arising from the natural oscillations of tissues in response to brief mechanical exposure of the skin.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Bandırma Onyedi Eylül University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

The Effect of Text Neck Syndrome on the Muscle and Bone Architecture of the Cervical Region

Important dates

Study start
2024
Primary completion
2024
Study completion
2025
First posted
Dec 4, 2025
Registry last updated
Dec 4, 2025

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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