Year: 2026 | Month: February | Volume: 16 | Issue: 2 | Pages: 275-286
DOI: https://doi.org/10.52403/ijhsr.20260231
Association of Smartphone Use with Cognition, Handgrip Strength and Manual Dexterity in Community Dwelling Elderly: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study
Ravisha S. Sharma1, Neha Rastogi2
1MPT Student- Government physiotherapy College- New Civil Hospital Surat
2Senior Lecturer- Government Physiotherapy College- New Civil Hospital Surat
Corresponding Author: Dr. Ravisha S Sharma (PT)
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND: Aging is associated with physiological and cognitive decline, leading to increased dependency among the growing elderly population. Smartphones and digital technologies offer opportunities to enhance communication, cognitive engagement, and quality of life in older adults. Hand grip strength and manual dexterity are important indicators of physical and cognitive health. Although smartphone use has been shown to benefit cognitive function, limited research has examined its impact on hand grip strength and manual dexterity in the elderly.
OBJECTIVE: To find association of smartphone use with Cognition, Hand grip strength and Hand dexterity in community dwelling elderly.
METHODOLOGY: After ethical clearance, this cross-sectional observational study had 120 participants with the age group 60 years and more. Selection was based on inclusion/exclusion criteria from Surat city. After consent from all the participants, outcomes were measured: Cognition by Montreal Cognitive Assessment (MoCa), Handgrip strength by JAMAR hand held Dynamometer and Manual dexterity by 9-hole peg test.
RESULTS: The IBM SPSS version 26.0 was used for analysis. The average MOCA Score for smartphone users (23.7±3.1) were more than non-users (19.9±4.0), as well as average hand grip strength of dominant hand was more in smartphone users (25.2±7.9) than the non-users (21.2±7.5). The Mann-Whitney test showed the significance of difference of average MoCa Score(p=0.000) and average hand grip strength of dominant hand (0.012) was significantly more in smartphone users.
CONCLUSION: This study highlights significant associations between smartphone use, cognitive function, and dominant hand grip strength in elderly individuals, with no observable impact on hand dexterity.
Key words: Aging, Smartphone use, Cognitive function, Hand grip strength, Hand dexterity