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2026, Vol: 10, Issue: 1
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Review Article
Online Published: 20 Jan 2026
 


Association between cervical pain and mobile phone use: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence, severity, duration, and risk factors

Yasser Saud Al-ahmadi, Abdulrahman Musaad Alshammari, Jawad W. Alharbi, Raneem Raja Alsaeedi, Zahra Mohammed Alnasser, Jaafar Naser Alhashem, Shahad Fayez Almutairi, Sufyan Abdullah Alwashmi, Majed Wasel Mukhtar, Mohammad Al Mohaini.


Abstract
Mobile phones offer powerful communication and entertainment; however, extended use can cause neck and shoulder pain. This meta-analysis aimed to evaluate the existing literature on the association between mobile phone use and the development of cervical pain and to assess the prevalence, severity, duration, and potential risk factors. A comprehensive search of PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Embase was conducted from inception to February 2024. Observational studies reporting the prevalence, severity, or duration of cervical pain in mobile phone users compared to non-users were included. Risk of bias was assessed, and a random-effects meta-analysis was conducted to find pooled odds ratios (OR) with 95% confidence intervals (CI). Ten observational studies with over 15,452 participants were included in the analysis. The pooled prevalence of cervical pain was significantly higher in mobile phone users compared to non-users (OR = 6.30, 95% CI 5.11-7.76, I² = 15%). Mobile phone use for>4 hours/day (OR = 3.50, 95% CI 2.67-4.58) and text neck posture (OR = 12.30, 95% CI 7.99-18.97) were identified as significant risk factors. More severe cervical pain was observed in users with duration >4 hours/day (standardized mean difference = 1.10, 95% CI 0.82-1.38, I² = 35%). Notably, cervical pain persisted for >6 months in 43% of mobile phone users. In conclusion, mobile phone use was linked to a greater risk of cervical pain, with increased prevalence, severity, and chronicity. The amount of daily phone use and the posture used while using the phone are key factors in the development of cervical pain.

Key words: Cervical pain, neck pain, posture, musculoskeletal pain, risk factors, mobile phone use, systematic review.


 
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How to Cite this Article
Pubmed Style

Al-ahmadi YS, Alshammari AM, Alharbi JW, Alsaeedi RR, Alnasser ZM, Alhashem JN, Almutairi SF, Alwashmi SA, Mukhtar MW, Mohaini MA. Association between cervical pain and mobile phone use: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence, severity, duration, and risk factors. IJMDC. 2026; 10(1): 514-525. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1766175449

Web Style

Al-ahmadi YS, Alshammari AM, Alharbi JW, Alsaeedi RR, Alnasser ZM, Alhashem JN, Almutairi SF, Alwashmi SA, Mukhtar MW, Mohaini MA. Association between cervical pain and mobile phone use: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence, severity, duration, and risk factors. https://www.ijmdc.com/?mno=303820 [Access: January 25, 2026]. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1766175449

AMA (American Medical Association) Style

Al-ahmadi YS, Alshammari AM, Alharbi JW, Alsaeedi RR, Alnasser ZM, Alhashem JN, Almutairi SF, Alwashmi SA, Mukhtar MW, Mohaini MA. Association between cervical pain and mobile phone use: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence, severity, duration, and risk factors. IJMDC. 2026; 10(1): 514-525. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1766175449


Vancouver/ICMJE Style

Al-ahmadi YS, Alshammari AM, Alharbi JW, Alsaeedi RR, Alnasser ZM, Alhashem JN, Almutairi SF, Alwashmi SA, Mukhtar MW, Mohaini MA. Association between cervical pain and mobile phone use: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence, severity, duration, and risk factors. IJMDC. (2026), [cited January 25, 2026]; 10(1): 514-525. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1766175449


Harvard Style

Al-ahmadi, Y. S., Alshammari, . A. M., Alharbi, . J. W., Alsaeedi, . R. R., Alnasser, . Z. M., Alhashem, . J. N., Almutairi, . S. F., Alwashmi, . S. A., Mukhtar, . M. W. & Mohaini, . M. A. (2026) Association between cervical pain and mobile phone use: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence, severity, duration, and risk factors. IJMDC, 10 (1), 514-525. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1766175449


Turabian Style

Al-ahmadi, Yasser Saud, Abdulrahman Musaad Alshammari, Jawad W. Alharbi, Raneem Raja Alsaeedi, Zahra Mohammed Alnasser, Jaafar Naser Alhashem, Shahad Fayez Almutairi, Sufyan Abdullah Alwashmi, Majed Wasel Mukhtar, and Mohammad Al Mohaini. 2026. Association between cervical pain and mobile phone use: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence, severity, duration, and risk factors. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 10 (1), 514-525. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1766175449


Chicago Style

Al-ahmadi, Yasser Saud, Abdulrahman Musaad Alshammari, Jawad W. Alharbi, Raneem Raja Alsaeedi, Zahra Mohammed Alnasser, Jaafar Naser Alhashem, Shahad Fayez Almutairi, Sufyan Abdullah Alwashmi, Majed Wasel Mukhtar, and Mohammad Al Mohaini. "Association between cervical pain and mobile phone use: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence, severity, duration, and risk factors." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 10 (2026), 514-525. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1766175449


MLA (The Modern Language Association) Style

Al-ahmadi, Yasser Saud, Abdulrahman Musaad Alshammari, Jawad W. Alharbi, Raneem Raja Alsaeedi, Zahra Mohammed Alnasser, Jaafar Naser Alhashem, Shahad Fayez Almutairi, Sufyan Abdullah Alwashmi, Majed Wasel Mukhtar, and Mohammad Al Mohaini. "Association between cervical pain and mobile phone use: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence, severity, duration, and risk factors." International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries 10.1 (2026), 514-525. Print. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1766175449


APA (American Psychological Association) Style

Al-ahmadi, Y. S., Alshammari, . A. M., Alharbi, . J. W., Alsaeedi, . R. R., Alnasser, . Z. M., Alhashem, . J. N., Almutairi, . S. F., Alwashmi, . S. A., Mukhtar, . M. W. & Mohaini, . M. A. (2026) Association between cervical pain and mobile phone use: a systematic review and meta-analysis of prevalence, severity, duration, and risk factors. International Journal of Medicine in Developing Countries, 10 (1), 514-525. doi:10.24911/IJMDC.51-1766175449




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