Impact of Nomophobia on Musculoskeletal Problems in the Upper Extremity among Adults: Implications for Occupational Therapy

Abstract

Nomophobia (NO MObile PHone Phobia) is a psychological condition in which people are anxious of being cut off from their mobile phones and been associated with adverse consequences to physical and psychosocial health. The objective of this study was to measure the impact of nomophobia on musculoskeletal problems in the upper extremity among adults. The Nomophobia scale (NMP-Q) was used to measure addiction to smartphone use among 5,087 Middle Eastern adults. A snowball sampling approach was used to recruit the participants between March and June 2021. Results showed that nomophobia was evident in 1,119 participants (22%) with a mean NMP-Q score of 114.1 (SD 11.1). A total of 3,396 upper extremity symptoms were reported among our participants. The binomial logistic regression showed that NMP-Q score is a significant predictor of symptoms to the thumb only (β = 0.01, p = .026). This study has provided evidence of the negative physical consequences of addiction to smartphone use. Participants with thumb-related symptoms were more prone to sustain other concurrent upper extremity symptoms, probably due to their maladaptive habits of using the phone. Thus, it is important to increase awareness about the risks associated with the use of smartphones. Implications for occupational therapy are presented.

Keywords:

• Carpometacarpal joint
• DeQuervain’s tenosynovitis
• musculoskeletal
• addiction
• problematic smartphone use

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability of statement

The datasets used during the current study are available from the corresponding author on reasonable request.

Additional information

Funding

The author(s) reported there is no funding associated with the work featured in this article.

Notes on contributors

Mohammed Sh. Nadar

Mohammed Sh. Nadar, has a Ph.D. in Therapeutic Sciences from the University of Kansas Medical Center (USA) and is currently an Associate Professor at the Occupational Therapy Department, at Kuwait University. With 25 years of experience in hand rehabilitation, Mohammed uses that experience to help clients engage in meaningful occupations and promotes health and well-being.