26 January 2026 : Clinical Research
The Relationship of Poor Posture While Using Electronic Devices and Periscapular Shoulder Pain
Waleed Albishi
ABEF 1, Laila Alsabbagh ABEF 1*, Abdulrahman Alaseem ABCE 1, Hamza M. Alrabai BCDF 1, Ibrahim Alshaygy BCDE 1, Hisham A. Alsanawi BDEF 1
DOI: 10.12659/MSM.950269
Med Sci Monit 2026; 32:e950269
Table 1 The 3-Section Questionnaire.
| Q1: Gender | ||||
| A. Male | ||||
| B. Female | ||||
| Q2: Age | ||||
| Q3: Social status | ||||
| A. Single | ||||
| B. Married | ||||
| Q4: Job status | ||||
| A. Student | ||||
| B. Employee | ||||
| C. Retired | ||||
| D. Housewife | ||||
| E. I do not work | ||||
| Q5: Job nature | ||||
| A. Office job | ||||
| B. Field job | ||||
| C. Combined field and office job | ||||
| D. I do not work | ||||
| Q6: Does your work require carrying heavy objects or lifting the arm/upper limb above head level? | ||||
| A. Yes | ||||
| B. No | ||||
| Q7: How many hours per day do you spend on office work? | ||||
| Q8: What is your preferred position for reading or performing paper/office tasks? | ||||
| A. Sitting on a chair at a desk | ||||
| B. Sitting on a couch or bed | ||||
| C. Lying on a bed or couch | ||||
| Q9: How many hours do you spend using electronic devices? | ||||
| Q10: What is your usual sitting posture when reading or using electronic devices (desktop/laptop) among the postures shown below? ()Figure 1 | ||||
| A. Posture No. 1 | ||||
| B. Posture No. 2 | ||||
| C. Posture No. 3 | ||||
| D. Posture No. 4 | ||||
| Q11: Which of the postures shown below best represents your usual back position when using mobile phones or tablets? ()Figure 2 | ||||
| A. Posture No. 1 | ||||
| B. Posture No. 2 | ||||
| Q12: Currently or previously had pain in the posterior shoulder region or around the shoulder blade? | ||||
| A. Yes, I currently have it | ||||
| B. Yes, I have had it in the past | ||||
| C. No (end of survey) | ||||
| Q13: What do you usually do to relieve posterior shoulder pain? | ||||
| Q13.1: Use of topical or oral pain relievers | ||||
| A. Yes | ||||
| B. No | ||||
| Q13.2: Use of muscle relaxant medications or ointments | ||||
| A. Yes | ||||
| B. No | ||||
| Q13.2: Use of muscle relaxant medications or ointments | ||||
| A. Yes | ||||
| B. No | ||||
| Q13.3: Massage of the painful area | ||||
| A. Yes | ||||
| B. No | ||||
| Q13.4: Use of warm compresses | ||||
| A. Yes | ||||
| B. No | ||||
| Q13.5: Stretching exercises or physical therapy | ||||
| A. Yes | ||||
| B. No | ||||
| Q13.6: Endure the pain and do nothing | ||||
| A. Yes | ||||
| B. No | ||||
| Q14: What is the intensity of posterior shoulder pain at rest, if you currently have or previously had it? | ||||
| Scale 0–10 (0=no pain, 10=worst pain) | ||||
| Q15: What is the intensity of pain during daily activities (eg, bathing, eating, dressing)? | ||||
| Scale 0–10 (0=no pain, 10=worst pain) | ||||
| Q16: What is the intensity of pain during exercise or lifting heavy objects? | ||||
| Scale 0–10 (0=no pain, 10=worst pain) | ||||
| Q17: How satisfied are you with your ability to move or use your shoulder joint in daily tasks? | ||||
| Scale 0–10 (0=not satisfied, 10=completely satisfied) | ||||
| Q18: Activity of daily living | ||||
| Not difficult | Somewhat difficult | Very difficult to do | Unable to do | |
| Is it difficult to put on a coat? | ||||
| Is it difficult to sleep on the affected side? | ||||
| Is it difficult to wash your back/do up your bra? | ||||
| Is it difficult to manage toileting? | ||||
| Is it difficult to comb your hair? | ||||
| Is it difficult for you to reach a high shelf? | ||||
| Is it difficult to lift 4.5 kg above your shoulder? | ||||
| Is it difficult to throw a ball overhand? | ||||
| Is it difficult for you to do your usual work? | ||||
| Is it difficult to do your usual sport/leisure activities? | ||||