Clinical Interventions in Aging (Apr 2018)
Locomotive syndrome: clinical perspectives
Abstract
Tatsunori Ikemoto,1 Young-Chang Arai2 1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Aichi Medical University, Yazako Karimata, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan; 2Institute of Physical Fitness, Sports Medicine and Rehabilitation, Aichi Medical University, Yazako Karimata, Nagakute, Aichi, Japan Abstract: The deterioration of locomotive components, which comprise bones, joints, and intervertebral discs, and muscles and nerves, can lead to symptoms such as pain, limitations in the range of joint mobility, malalignment, impaired balance, and difficulty walking. Locomotive syndrome (LoS) was proposed by the Japanese Orthopedic Association in 2007 as a concept for people who are at a high risk of developing a musculoskeletal ambulation disability attributed to locomotor organs. Although many international articles related to LoS have been published, an international consensus of this concept seems to be lacking. This review article on LoS introduces the concept, the related assessment methods, and the condition’s prevalence based on the most up-to-date literature, and discusses discrimination from frailty and sarcopenia, relevance to musculoskeletal problems, management plan, and future directions. Familiarity with recent evidence would be useful for the health care providers in an aging society to educate individuals with LoS or pre-LoS and to maintain their well-being and prevent them from requiring long-term care. Keywords: locomotive syndrome, long-term care, frailty, sarcopenia, functional disability, osteoarthritis, spondylosis, osteoporosis
