Walking Speed Modulates Neck-Shoulder Strain During Smartphone Use with Backpack Load.

Background/

Objectives

The concurrent use of smartphones and backpacks presents notable ergonomic challenges for students and young adults. However, the influence of walking speed on this dual-task biomechanical strain remains unclear. This study investigated how walking speed, backpack load, and gender affect postural alignment and neck-shoulder muscle activity during smartphone use.

Methods

Thirty healthy university students (15 males and 15 females) were assessed using a motion capture system and surface electromyography to quantify postural alignment and muscle activity. Each participant completed twelve randomized conditions comprising three backpack loads (0%, 5%, and 10% of body weight) combined with four locomotor states (standing and walking at slow, normal, and fast speeds). Outcome measures included neck flexion, upper-trunk angle, lumbosacral angle, and normalized surface electromyography of the cervical erector spinae (CES) and upper trapezius (UTZ). A three-way ANOVA was used to evaluate main and interaction effects.

Results

Increasing backpack load significantly increased neck flexion and upper-trunk angle while reducing the lumbosacral angle (all p < 0.001). Muscle activity rose proportionally with load, with UTZ activation nearly doubling from 10.7% to 21.1% maximum voluntary contraction (MVC) at 10% body weight. Faster walking increased lumbar flexion and elevated CES and UTZ activation (p < 0.05), while neck and upper-trunk postures remained stable across speeds. Females maintained more upright postures but exhibited higher muscle activity than males (p < 0.01). UTZ activation frequently exceeded the 15% MVC fatigue threshold during walking with backpacks.

Conclusions

Walking speed critically modulates musculoskeletal strain during concurrent smartphone use and load carriage. The combined effects of backpack load and smartphone use can elevate neck-shoulder muscle demands, with UTZ activity occasionally approaching fatigue thresholds under moderate load and faster walking. Based on the current findings, backpack loads above 5% of body weight may increase the risk of neck-shoulder strain. Additionally, reducing smartphone use during fast walking may help prevent neck-shoulder fatigue and related musculoskeletal discomfort.