Immediate Effects of Texting and Music Listening on Balance: A Comparative Analysis of Static and Dynamic Outcomes in Young Adults

Abstract

Purpose

This study aimed to investigate the immediate effects of texting and listening to music with headphones, both separately and in combination, on the static and dynamic balance of young adults.

Method

A cross-sectional study was conducted on 35 healthy young adults. The FreeMed-Baropodometric platform was used to assess static balance outcomes, including sway length, sway velocity, and displacement of the center of pressure in the mediolateral (DeltaX) and anteroposterior (DeltaY) directions, and dynamic balance outcomes, including initial contact, loading response, midstance, and terminal stance times. The participants underwent four conditions: standing still without any additional tasks, standing while texting, standing while music listening with headphones, and standing while both texting and listening to music with headphones. Additional measurements included forward head posture analysis, and New York Posture Rating Scale. Data were analyzed using Friedman and Wilcoxon tests with Bonferroni correction for multiple comparisons.

Results

Texting compared to listening to music with headphones or standing significantly affected static balance outcomes, including sway length, velocity, and Delta X and Delta Y, particularly in monopodalic conditions (p < .001). In contrast, listening to music with headphones with or without texting did not significantly impact static or dynamic balance outcomes (p > .05).

Conclusions

Texting can adversely affect static balance, whereas listening to music with headphones does not significantly impact static or dynamic balance in young-healthy individuals. These findings suggest that individuals should consider stopping and sitting when texting to maintain balance and safety.