RESUMO
BACKGROUND:Smartphones are a double-edged sword,which not only bring convenience,but also result in excessive reliance.Especially the youth often gaze at their phones when standing or walking,which may affect their static standing balance and plantar pressure gait characteristics.OBJECTIVE:To investigate the influence of staring at mobile phones when standing or walking on the static balance,plantar pressure and gait characteristics in young men,thus informing its negative effect on gait characteristics and lower limb joints.METHODS:Twenty health young men were selected,the plantar pressure when normal standing and walking was measured using Loran plantar pressure analysis system (NO.MPS,Italy).After 20 minutes of rest,the same measurement was performed in all participants staring at mobile for 10 minutes during standing or walking.The relative indexes were compared between two conditions after data collection.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:When young men staring at mobile phone for 20 seconds during standing,the fluctuation speed,displacement and track area were significantly larger than those during normal standing (P ＜ 0.05);moreover,the contact area,pressure peak and average pressure of the first and second metatarsus in plantar area were significantly larger than those during normal standing (P ＜ 0.05),while the parameters of heel lateral area were significantly lower than those during normal standing (P ＜ 0.05).The stride and speed when staring at mobile phone during walking were significantly smaller than those during normal walking (P ＜ 0.05);the support time of two feet and angle between feet were significantly larger than those during normal walking;the contact area,pressure peak and average pressure of the 4th and 5th metatarsus in plantar area and heel lateral area were significantly larger than those during normal walking.These results suggest that the gravity is less stable and more anterior when young men staring at mobile phone during standing than during normal standing.Staring at mobile phone during walking can alter the gait characteristics,resulting in longer support time,shorter stride,slower step speed,larger walking angle and higher lateral plantar pressure.