Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

The influence of locomotive syndrome on health-related quality of life in a community-living population

  • Original Article
  • Published:
Modern Rheumatology

Abstract

Objectives

The Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) has proposed the term “locomotive syndrome” (LS) to designate a condition in individuals with musculoskeletal disease in high-risk groups who are highly likely to require nursing care. The present study investigated the influence of LS on the quality of life (QOL) of a community-living population.

Methods

A total of 386 subjects ≥ 50 years of age were enrolled in the study. Those whose scores on the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale were ≥16 were defined as having LS. Participants answered the JOA Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ) and visual analogue scales (VAS) for low back pain, leg pain, leg numbness, and left and right knee pain; the Roland Morris Disability Questionnaire (RDQ); and the Short Form 36 (SF-36). We compared the scores on the three QOL measures between subjects diagnosed with and without LS.

Results

There were 62 people defined as having LS. Subjects with LS scored significantly lower on the JOABPEQ and SF-36 than those without LS. They also had significantly higher scores on the five VASs and the RDQ compared with those without LS.

Conclusions

We found that LS strongly impacted QOL and the scores from the VASs. LS appears to be a useful concept for screening subjects who are experiencing a lowered QOL due to musculoskeletal diseases, especially degenerative lumbar diseases and knee osteoarthritis.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Nakamura K. The concept and treatment of locomotive syndrome: its acceptance and spread in Japan. J Orthop Sci. 2011;16(5):489–91.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  2. Nakamura K. Guidebook on locomotive syndrome. Tokyo: Bunkodo, 2010.

  3. Nakamura K. A “super-aged” society and the “locomotive syndrome”. J Orthop Sci. 2008;13(1):1–2.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  4. Fukui M, Chiba K, Kawakami M, Kikuchi S, Konno S, Miyamoto M, et al. JOA back pain evaluation questionnaire: initial report. J Orthop Sci. 2007;12(5):443–50.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  5. Fukui M, Chiba K, Kawakami M, Kikuchi S, Konno S, Miyamoto M, et al. Japanese Orthopaedic Association Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire. Part 3. Validity study and establishment of the measurement scale. J Orthop Sci. 2008;13(3):173–9.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Fukui M, Chiba K, Kawakami M, Kikuchi S, Konno S, Miyamoto M, et al. JOA Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire (JOABPEQ)/JOA Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation Questionnaire (JOACMEQ). The report on the development of revised versions. April 16, 2007. The Subcommittee of the Clinical Outcome Committee of the Japanese Orthopaedic Association on Low Back Pain and Cervical Myelopathy Evaluation. J Orthop Sci. 2009;14(3):348–65.

    Google Scholar 

  7. Fukui M, Chiba K, Kawakami M, Kikuchi S, Konno S, Miyamoto M, et al. Japanese Orthopaedic Association back pain evaluation questionnaire. Part 2. Verification of its reliability. J Orthop Sci. 2007;12(6):526–32.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  8. Roland M, Morris R. A study of the natural history of back pain. 1. Development of a reliable and sensitive measure of disability in low-back-pain. Spine. 1983;8(2):141–4.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Roland M, Morris R. A study of the natural history of low-back-pain. 2. Development of guidelines for trials of treatment in primary care. Spine. 1983;8(2):145–50.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. Ware JE, Jr. SF-36 health survey update. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2000;25(24):3130–9.

  11. Ware JE Jr, Sherbourne CD. The MOS 36-item short-form health survey (SF-36). I. Conceptual framework and item selection. Med Care. 1992;30(6):473–83.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  12. Seichi A, Hoshino Y, Doi T, Akai M, Tobimatsu Y, Iwaya T. Development of a screening tool for risk of locomotive syndrome in the elderly: the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale. J Orthop Sci. 2012;17(2):163–72.

    Google Scholar 

  13. Fukuhara S, Bito S, Green J, Hsiao A, Kurokawa K. Translation, adaptation, and validation of the SF-36 Health Survey for use in Japan. J Clin Epidemiol. 1998;51(11):1037–44.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Suzukamo Y, Fukuhara S, Kikuchi S, Konno S, Roland M, Iwamoto Y, et al. Validation of the Japanese version of the Roland-Morris Disability Questionnaire. J Orthop Sci. 2003;8(4):543–8.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  15. Adachi JD, Ioannidis G, Berger C, Joseph L, Papaioannou A, Pickard L, et al. The influence of osteoporotic fractures on health-related quality of life in community-dwelling men and women across Canada. Osteoporos Int. 2001;12(11):903–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Adachi JD, Ionnidis G, Olszynski WP, Brown JP, Hanley DA, Sebaldt RJ, et al. The impact of incident vertebral and non-vertebral fractures on health related quality of life in postmenopausal women. BMC Musculoskeletal Disord 2002;3.

  17. Lips P, Cooper C, Agnusdei D, Caulin F, Egger P, Johnell O, et al. Quality of life in patients with vertebral fractures: validation of the quality of life questionnaire of the European Foundation for Osteoporosis (QUALEFFO). Osteoporos Int. 1999;10(2):150–60.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Lips P, Cooper C, Agnusdei D, Caulin F, Egger P, Johnell O, et al. Quality of life as outcome in the treatment of osteoporosis: the development of a questionnaire for quality of life by the European Foundation for Osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int. 1997;7(1):36–8.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Miyakoshi N, Hongo M, Maekawa S, Ishikawa Y, Shimada Y, Itoi E. Back extensor strength and lumbar spinal mobility are predictors of quality of life in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int. 2007;18(10):1397–403.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  20. Miyakoshi N, Itoi E, Kobayashi M, Kodama H. Impact of postural deformities and spinal mobility on quality of life in postmenopausal osteoporosis. Osteoporos Int. 2003;14(12):1007–12.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Silverman SL, Minshall ME, Shen W, Harper KD, Xie S, Subgroup H-RQL. The relationship of health-related quality of life to prevalent and incident vertebral fractures in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis—results from the multiple outcomes of raloxifene evaluation study. Arthritis Rheum. 2001;44(11):2611–9.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Silverman SL, Piziak VK, Chen P, Misurski DA, Wagman RB. Relationship of health related quality of life to prevalent and new or worsening back pain in postmenopausal women with osteoporosis. J Rheumatol. 2005;32(12):2405–9.

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  23. Hill CL, Parsons J, Taylor A, Leach G. Health related quality of life in a population sample with arthritis. J Rheumatol. 1999;26(9):2029–35.

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Bachmeier CJ, March LM, Cross MJ, Lapsley HM, Tribe KL, Courtenay BG, et al. A comparison of outcomes in osteoarthritis patients undergoing total hip and knee replacement surgery. Osteoarthr Cartil. 2001;9(2):137–46.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Fransen M, Edmonds J. Reliability and validity of the EuroQol in patients with osteoarthritis of the knee. Rheumatology. 1999;38(9):807–13.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  26. Brazier JE, Harper R, Munro J, Walters SJ, Snaith ML. Generic and condition-specific outcome measures for people with osteoarthritis of the knee. Rheumatology. 1999;38(9):870–7.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Muraki S, Akune T, Oka H, En-yo Y, Yoshida M, Saika A, et al. Association of radiographic and symptomatic knee osteoarthritis with health-related quality of life in a population-based cohort study in Japan: the ROAD study. Osteoarthr Cartil. 2010;18(9):1227–34.

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Muraki S, Akune T, Oka H, En-Yo Y, Yoshida M, Saika A, et al. Health-related quality of life in subjects with low back pain and knee pain in a population-based cohort study of Japanese men: the research on osteoarthritis against disability study. Spine (Phila Pa 1976) 2011;36(16):1312–9.

    Google Scholar 

  29. Muraki S, Akune T, Oka H, En-Yo Y, Yoshida M, Saika A, et al. Impact of knee and low back pain on health-related quality of life in Japanese women: the research on osteoarthritis against disability (ROAD). Mod Rheumatol. 2010;20(5):444–51.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  30. Imagama S, Matsuyama Y, Hasegawa Y, Sakai Y, Ito Z, Ishiguro N, et al. Back muscle strength and spinal mobility are predictors of quality of life in middle-aged and elderly males. Eur Spine J. 2011;20(6):954–61.

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors thank the staff of the Comprehensive Health Care Program carried out in Yakumo, Hokkaido. This study was supported by The Japanese Ministry of Health, Labor, and Welfare, with Grants-in Aid for Scientific Research (B)(2)(15390455) and (B)(2)(20390397) and a Grant from the Japan Orthopaedics and Traumatology Foundation, Inc. (No. 244).

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Nagoya University Graduate School of Medicine, 65 Tsurumai-cho, Showa-ku, Nagoya, 466-8560, Japan

    Kenichi Hirano, Shiro Imagama, Yukiharu Hasegawa, Zenya Ito, Akio Muramoto & Naoki Ishiguro

Authors
  1. Kenichi Hirano
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Shiro Imagama
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Yukiharu Hasegawa
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Zenya Ito
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Akio Muramoto
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Naoki Ishiguro
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Kenichi Hirano.

About this article

Cite this article

Hirano, K., Imagama, S., Hasegawa, Y. et al. The influence of locomotive syndrome on health-related quality of life in a community-living population. Mod Rheumatol 23, 939–944 (2013). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10165-012-0770-2

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10165-012-0770-2

Keywords

Search

Navigation