Year: 2026 | Month: August | Volume: 13 | Issue: 8 | Pages: 204-209
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijrr.20260820
Association Between Perceived Stress and Altered Pain Pressure Threshold in Upper Trapezius and Sternocleidomastoid in Smartphone Addict Young Adult: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study
Anjana S Shetty1, Dr. R. Kamalakannan2
1BPT Student, Institute of Physiotherapy, Srinivas University, Mangalore, India.
2Associate Professor, Institute of Physiotherapy, Srinivas University, Mangalore, India.
Corresponding Author: Anjana S Shetty
ABSTRACT
Background: Smartphones have become an essential part of daily life, particularly among young adults. Excessive smartphone use may lead to smartphone addiction, which has been associated with psychological stress and musculoskeletal problems, including altered pain sensitivity in cervical muscles.
Aim: To evaluate the association between perceived stress and pressure pain threshold (PPT) of the upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles in smartphone-addicted young adults.
Methods: This pilot cross-sectional observational study included 10 smartphone-addicted young adults aged 18–25 years selected through convenience sampling after obtaining written informed consent. Smartphone addiction was assessed using the Smartphone Addiction Scale–Short Version (SAS-SV), perceived stress using the Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10), and PPT of the upper trapezius and sternocleidomastoid muscles using a handheld pressure algometer. Correlation analysis was performed to examine the relationship between perceived stress and PPT.
Results: The mean age of participants was 22.80 ± 0.79 years, with equal numbers of males and females. The mean SAS-SV score was 33.00 ± 1.41 and the mean PSS score was 26.80 ± 3.99. Mean PPT was 2.18 ± 0.14 kg/cm² for the upper trapezius and 1.67 ± 0.42 kg/cm² for the sternocleidomastoid. Perceived stress showed a moderate negative correlation with upper trapezius PPT (r = −0.585, p = 0.076) and a weak negative correlation with sternocleidomastoid PPT (r = −0.378, p = 0.281). These correlations were not statistically significant.
Conclusion: Smartphone-addicted young adults demonstrated moderate perceived stress and reduced cervical muscle PPT. Although higher perceived stress was associated with lower PPT, the associations were not statistically significant. Larger studies are needed to confirm these findings.
Keywords: Smartphone addiction, perceived stress, pressure pain threshold, upper trapezius, sternocleidomastoid.
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