title: Locomotive Syndrome: Operational Definition Based on a Questionnaire, and Exercise Interventions on Mobility Dysfunction in Elderly People.
abstract: The increasing elderly population has a great impact on public health, and it is important to understand the progression of musculoskeletal disorders seen in this population. To establish useful preventative methods for such locomotive disorders, we must detect early changes in these individuals and identify those at risk in order to implement early interventions. The purpose of this review was: (1) to introduce an operational definition of locomotion dysfunction to prevent a care-need condition, and to verify its validity through a prospective cohort study, and (2) to review the indication of exercise intervention for multiple musculoskeletal involvements from the preceding literature. We developed a measurement scale called the Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS)-25, which clearly reflects the degree of functional deterioration. We used it in a prospective cohort study of 314 patients recruited from 5 clinics or nursing care facilities and investigated the relationship of the GLFS-25 with 46 variables covering various clinical manifestations. The results clearly revealed that the change in the GLFS-25 classification reflected a common pattern seen in those with locomotive dysfunction. Recently, several important movements regarding physical activity and its public promotion have been advocated by international health organizations and journal publishers. Though it has not been confirmed yet that complex musculoskeletal diseases can be treated using therapeutic exercise, the promotion of physical activity appears promising. The degree of activity limitation in aged individuals with locomotive disorders can be evaluated using this scale, which may be useful in predicting the effectiveness of future interventions.
authors.affiliation: Graduate School, International University of Health and Welfare, 4F, Aoyama 1-Chome Tower, 1-3-3 Minami-Aoyama, Minato-ku, Tokyo, 107-0062 Japan.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Akai
authors.affiliation: Geriatric Care Facility Hakucho, 3-18-24 Tabata, Kita-ku, Tokyo, 114-0014 Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Doi
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopedics, Mitsui Memorial Hospital, 1 Kanda-Izumi-chou, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-0024 Japan.
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Seichi
authors.affiliation: National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, 4-1 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-8555 Japan.
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Okuma
authors.affiliation: National Rehabilitation Center for Persons with Disabilities, 4-1 Namiki, Tokorozawa, Saitama, 359-8555 Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ogata
authors.affiliation: Nagano University of Health and Medicine, 11-1 Imaihara, Kawanakajima-chou, Nagano, 381-2227 Japan.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Iwaya
keywords: Aging society; Exercise; Locomotive disorders; Long-term care; Physical activity