Impact of Daily Screen Time on Headache Patterns and Musculoskeletal Pain in Patients with Temporomandibular Disorders: A Pilot Cross-Sectional Study
Keywords:
Screen time, Temporomandibular disorders, Headache, Musculoskeletal pain, Visual display terminal syndromeAbstract
Background and Objective: Temporomandibular disorders (TMD) are a prevalent source of chronic orofacial pain. Increased digital device usage has raised concerns regarding its contribution to musculoskeletal complaints. This study assessed the association between daily screen time exposure and the prevalence of headache and widespread musculoskeletal pain among patients with TMD in Navi Mumbai.
Methods: A cross-sectional analytical study was conducted among 20 patients diagnosed with TMD based on DC/TMD criteria. Data were collected using a validated structured questionnaire and standardized clinical examination. Statistical analysis was performed using SPSS v21.0. Associations were evaluated using Chi-square test and Pearson’s correlation, with statistical significance set at p < 0.05.
Results: Frequent episodic TTH was observed in 40% of participants, new daily persistent headache in 25%, and migraine without aura in 15%. Widespread musculoskeletal pain was reported by 75% of the cohort. Screen time exceeding four hours per day demonstrated a statistically significant association with headache occurrence and widespread pain, with a moderate positive correlation noted between screen duration and WPI scores (r = 0.41).
Conclusion: Higher daily screen exposure was significantly associated with increased headache prevalence and musculoskeletal symptom burden among TMD patients. Incorporating ergonomic counselling and digital-use assessment into routine orofacial pain management may assist in mitigating symptom severity. Larger multi-centre studies are recommended to validate these findings.
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