Relationship between locomotive syndrome and body composition among community-dwelling middle-age and elderly individuals in Japan: The Yakumo study

Abstract

Objectives: Locomotive syndrome (LS) is a condition requiring nursing care for musculoskeletal disorders. Our aim was to evaluate the correlation between body composition, measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA), and LS, measured using the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Functional Scale (GLFS-25).

Methods: We enrolled 286 individuals who were undergoing regular health follow-up. All individuals completed the GLFS-25, body composition analysis by BIA, and five physical performance tests related to LS: timed up-and-go test, 10-m gait time, maximum stride length, back strength, and grip strength. Measured variables and demographic data were compared between individuals with and without LS.

Results: The extracellular water ratio, the extracellular water/total body water (ECW/TBW) ratio differentiated the LS and non-LS groups (p=.005), with all physical function measures being lower among individuals with a high, compared to low, ECW/TBW ratio. The risk ratio for LS among individuals with a high ECW/TBW ratio was 2.31, with an odds ratio of 2.67.

Conclusion: The ECW/TBW ratio is predictive of LS. Based on our results, we propose that BIA should routinely be performed, with follow-up and intervention, as needed, for individuals with a high ECW/TBW ratio, as they are at risk for developing LS.

Keywords:

• Bioelectrical impedance analysis
• community-dwelling people
• ECW/TBW
• locomotive syndrome

Acknowledgements

We are grateful to the staff of the Comprehensive Health Care Program held in Yakumo, Hokkaido, and Ms. Marie Miyazaki and Ms. Hiroko Ino of Nagoya University for their assistance throughout this study.

Conflict of interest

None.