title: Epidemiologic survey of locomotive syndrome in Japan.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The authors have developed a screening tool, the 25-Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25), for the early detection of locomotive syndrome (LS). However, few studies have examined the prevalence of LS in the general population. This study estimated the prevalence of LS in Japan using the GLSF-25 and investigated age specific mean values for this scale.
  
  
  METHODS
  A nationwide cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted to reveal standard values for the GLFS-25 and to estimate the total number of individuals with LS in Japan. Subjects were individuals selected from residents aged 40-79 years in Japan by a stratified, two-stage random sampling method in 2014. The survey period was from February to March 2014. A total of 9028 subjects were invited to participate. The GLFS-25 was used to estimate the prevalence of LS. We also investigated the degree of recognition of LS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Answers for the questionnaire were obtained from 5162 subjects (57.2%); 22.1% of responders had heard of LS. According to the GLSF-25, 614 subjects were regarded as having LS, representing a prevalence of 11.9%. When standardizing this value with the age distribution of the Japanese population, the total number of individuals with LS between the 40s and 70s in Japan was estimated to be approximately 7.5 million. Age specific standard values on the GLFS-25 were 4.4 in the 40s, 5.5 in the 50s, 7.1 in the 60s, and 12.7 in the 70s. The prevalence of LS increased with age and was particularly high in subjects aged 70-79.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The degree of recognition of LS was 22%. This study demonstrated sex- and age specific standard values of the GLFS-25 and estimated the total number of individuals with LS in Japan based on a representative population.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Mitsui Memorial Hospital, Tokyo, Japan. Electronic address: seichi-spine@mitsuihosp.or.jp.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seichi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedics, Jichi Medical University, Tochigi, Japan.
authors.forename: Atsushi
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kimura
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Shinichi
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Konno
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Fukushima Medical University, Fukushima, Japan.
authors.forename: Shoji
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Yabuki
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D015577:Geriatric Assessment / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007564:Japan / Q000453:epidemiology; D008124:Locomotion / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D051346:Mobility Limitation; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D015995:Prevalence; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013577:Syndrome