Association of Forward Head Posture and Hand Grip Strength in Young Adults with Prolonged Screen Exposure Young Adults with Prolonged Screen Exposure

Background: Forward Head Posture (FHP) is one of the most common postural deviations among youngadults due to prolonged use of smartphones, laptops, tablets, and other digital devices. Sustained screenexposure encourages prolonged neck flexion, poor sitting posture, and inadequate ergonomic practices,resulting in altered cervical alignment, muscular imbalance, and reduced upper extremity function. HandGrip Strength (HGS) is an important indicator of upper limb muscle function and may be influenced bycervical posture. Although previous studies have reported an association between prolonged screenexposure and Forward Head Posture, limited evidence is available regarding its relationship with HandGrip Strength among young adults. Therefore, the present study was conducted to determine the prevalenceand severity of Forward Head Posture and to investigate its association with Hand Grip Strength in youngadults with prolonged screen exposure.Methods: A correlational study was conducted in the Department of Physiotherapy, Pacific MedicalCollege and Hospital, Udaipur. A total of 150 young adults aged 18–40 years with prolonged daily screenexposure were recruited using a convenience sampling technique. Forward Head Posture wasassessed using the Postural Observation Method and the Head-to-Wall Distance Test, while Hand GripStrength was measured using a hand gripper for both dominant and non-dominant hands. A structuredquestionnaire was used to collect demographic information, screen exposure duration, postural habits, andmusculoskeletal symptoms. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and the Pearson correlationcoefficient, with the level of significance set at p < 0.05.Results : A total of 150 participants completed the study. Moderate Forward Head Posture was the mostcommon finding, followed by mild and severe Forward Head Posture. A statistically significant negativecorrelation was observed between Forward Head Posture and Hand Grip Strength (p < 0.05), indicatingthat participants with greater postural deviation demonstrated lower grip strength. Participants withprolonged daily screen exposure also reported a higher prevalence of neck pain, neck stiffness, shoulderdiscomfort, headache, fatigue during work, and hand weakness. These findings suggest that prolongedscreen exposure is significantly associated with poor cervical posture and reduced upper extremity musclefunction among young adults.Conclusion : Forward Head Posture was highly prevalent among young adults with prolonged screenexposure and showed a significant negative association with Hand Grip Strength. Participants with greaterseverity of Forward Head Posture demonstrated lower grip strength and reported more musculoskeletalsymptoms. These findings highlight the importance of early postural assessment, ergonomic education, andhealthy screen-use habits to prevent musculoskeletal disorders and preserve upper extremity function. Earlyidentification of Forward Head Posture may help reduce the long-term impact of prolonged screenexposure on functional health.