Smartphone posture apps produced repeatable measurements, but accuracy remains less clear
A review found strong consistency for a neck-posture angle, while results for other alignment measures varied and the abstract supplied little detail about accuracy.
Based on the published abstract. The full paper may contain additional methods, results and limitations.
The 30-second takeaway
The clearest result concerned how consistently smartphone apps measured the craniovertebral angle, a neck-posture measure. Agreement was high when measurements were repeated and when different raters assessed them. This supports repeatability for that measure, but the abstract does not establish that every app accurately assesses posture or that using an app improves health.
This abstract-based summary cannot assess individual apps or their validity results. The authors cite English-language restriction, differing methods, small samples and inconsistent reporting as limitations.
What researchers found
Craniovertebral-angle measurement repeatability
Repeated measurements compared with each other using a pooled intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC); retest intervals were not reported.
What the apps measured
The review examined apps that use photographs to assess body alignment from side and front views. It included studies of app development, testing or validation, while excluding wearable, radiographic and sensor-based approaches.
Consistency depends on the measure
Hip tilt, head tilt and shoulder alignment measurements showed moderate to excellent reliability. Consistency is one part of assessment performance; it does not by itself establish the usefulness of an app for clinical decisions.
The original publication
Photogrammetry-based smartphone applications for spinal posture assessment: a systematic review and meta-analysis.
Karbalaeimahdi M, Minoonejad H, Mousavi SH et al.
Sci Rep · 2025
- PubMed ID
- 41398198
- Record checked
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