Comparison of Cervical and TMJ Parameters in Young Adults With and Without Text Neck Syndrome

NCT07851805 — Not yet recruiting, 80 participants, Borna Farhoomand

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Comparison of Physical Parameters Related to the Cervical Region and Temporomandibular Joint in Young Individuals With and Without Text Neck Syndrome: A Cross-Sectional Study

Registry	NCT07851805
Status	Not yet recruiting
Study type	Observational
Enrollment	80 (Estimated)
Sponsor	Borna Farhoomand (Other)
Conditions	Text Neck Syndrome, Temporomandibular Joint Disorders, Postural Balance
Dates	start 2026-10-01 (estimated), primary completion 2026-11-30 (estimated), completion 2026-12-28 (estimated), first posted 2026-10-01, last updated 2026-10-01

-Summary

The aim of this cross-sectional study is to compare temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and cervical spine parameters between young university students aged 18-30 years with and without text neck syndrome, a modern overuse condition caused by prolonged digital device use and repetitive forward head flexion. Given the anatomical, biomechanical, and functional connections between the stomatognathic system and the cervical region, prolonged altered posture may contribute to TMJ dysfunction, pain, and altered physical metrics. Participants are categorized into two groups based on photographic and self-reported text neck severity (levels 3-4 for text neck vs. levels 1-2 for non-text neck) and evaluated across multiple physical parameters, including craniovertebral and cervicothoracic angles, active cervical and mandibular range of motion, cervical joint position sense, neck and TMJ pain intensity via Visual Analog Scale, TMJ dysfunction severity using the Turkish-validated Fonseca Questionnaire, static balance via the single-leg stance test, and dynamic balance via the Y Balance Test.

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+Arms and interventions

Arm	Type	Interventions	Description
Text Neck Syndrome Group
Non-Text Neck Group

+Outcome measures

Primary outcomes

Cervical Posture Angles [Baseline (at a single assessment point)]
Cervical and Temporomandibular Joint Pain Intensity [Baseline (at a single assessment point).]: Description: Will be evaluated using a 10-cm Visual Analog Scale (VAS; 0 = no pain, 10 = worst imaginable pain) for neck pain and TMJ pain (at rest, during activity, and while chewing).
Cervical Range of Motion (CROM) [Baseline (at a single assessment point).]: Description: Will be evaluated in degrees for active cervical flexion, extension, bilateral lateral flexion, and bilateral rotation using the CROM (Cervical Range of Motion) device.
Mandibular Range of Motion [Baseline (at a single assessment point).]: Description: Will be measured in millimeters (mm) using a digital caliper and ruler for maximum mouth opening, right/left lateral movements, and protrusion.
Text Neck Posture Classification [Baseline (at a single assessment point).]: Text neck posture will be assessed using both self-reported perception and standardized photographic analysis.

Secondary outcomes

Temporomandibular Joint Dysfunction Severity [Baseline.]: Description: Will be evaluated using the Turkish-validated Fonseca Questionnaire (10 items, total score 0-100; higher scores indicate greater TMD severity).
Cervical Joint Position Sense (JPS) [Baseline]: Description: Will be evaluated in degrees using the CROM device across flexion-extension, lateral flexion, and rotation planes to measure absolute error from a target angle
Static Balance [Baseline.]: Description: Will be measured in seconds with eyes open and eyes closed on a firm surface.
Dynamic Balance Assessment using the Y Balance Test [Baseline]

+Eligibility

Sex: All, ages: 18 Months to 30 Years

Inclusion Criteria:

* University students aged between 18 and 24 years,
* Group 1: Individuals with level 3 or level 4 text neck posture based on the self-reported posture assessment diagram,
* Group 2: Individuals with level 1 or level 2 text neck posture based on the self-reported posture assessment diagram,
* Being physically and mentally eligible to participate in the study,
* Willingness to voluntarily participate and provide written informed consent prior to study enrollment.

Exclusion Criteria:

* History of cervical spine surgery,
* Ongoing orthodontic treatment,
* Receiving medical treatment related to the neck or jaw region within the last 3 months,
* Exposure to trauma related to the neck or jaw region within the last 3 months,
* Presence of a diagnosed psychiatric disorder.