FREQUENCY OF NECK AND BACK FUNCTIONAL DISABILITY AMONG UNIVERSITY STUDENTS RELATED TO USAGE OF ELECTRONIC GADGETS DURING COVID-19 QUARANTINE

Abstract

Objective: To find out the frequency of neck and back functional disability among university students related to usage of electronic gadgets during COVID-19 quarantine.

Methodology: A cross sectional study was carried out on 187 Participants, completed within 3 months. Data was collected from university students of University of Lahore, University of Central Punjab, University of Management and Technology and University of South Asia. In collection of data one online self-structured questionnaire and two scales i-e. Neck Disability Index (NDI) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used on the basis of inclusion and exclusion criteria.

Results: During COVID-19 quarantine 39.6% participants had low back disability and 82.9% had neck disability due to usage of electronic gadgets. The association between usage electronic gadgets with low back disability is not significant and the association between usage electronic gadgets with neck disability is significant.

Conclusion: Few numbers of participants were suffering from back disability and majority of the students had neck disability and causing functional limitations due to usage of electronic gadgets.