Factors Predicting Locomotive Syndrome among Older Adults
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Purpose: To determine the predictive power of body mass index (BMI), cognitive impairment, and depression with regard to locomotive syndrome among older adults.
Design: Predictive correlational research.
Methods: The study included 125 older adults aged 60 years and over, who had a visit at a geriatric clinic of a super tertiary care hospital in Bangkok. Data collection instruments included a personal information and BMI record form, Thai Mental State Examination, Thai Geriatric Depression Scale-15, and the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression.
Main findings: The findings indicated that 52% of the older adults in this study exhibited locomotive syndrome. Body mass index, cognitive impairment, and depression jointly predicted the occurrence of locomotive syndrome, accounting for 21%. Among these factors, cognitive impairment (OR = 4.12; 95%CI [1.58, 10.77], p = .004) and depression (OR = 2.95; 95%CI [1.08, 8.08], p = .035) emerged as statistically significant predictors.
Conclusion and recommendations: Cognitive impairment and Depression can predict Locomotive Syndrome among older adults. Nurses and Health care providers should therefore prioritize screening for these psychological factors particularly depression and cognitive impairment in routine assessments. Early identification of these conditions may help reduce the risk of developing locomotive syndrome and promote better health outcomes and quality of life among older adults.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Copyright Notice: Nursing Science Journal of Thailand has exclusive rights to publish and distribute the manuscript and all contents therein. Without the journal’s permission, the dissemination of the manuscript in another journal or online, and the reproduction of the manuscript for non-educational purpose are prohibited.
Disclaimer: The opinion expressed and figures provided in this journal, NSJT, are the sole responsibility of the authors. The editorial board bears no responsibility in this regard.
References
National Statistical Office, Ministry of Digital Economy and Society. The 2024 Survey of the older persons in Thailand provincial level [Internet]. Bangkok: Statistical Information Dissemination; 2024 [cited 2025 May 27]. Available from https://www.nso.go.th/nsoweb/storage/survey_detail/2025/20250103144326_51634.pdf. (in Thai).
Bureau of Elderly Health, Department of Health, Ministry of Publish Health. Wellness plan: a guide to promoting healthy aging. Nonthaburi: Ministry of Public Health; 2024. 78 p. (in Thai).
The Locomotive Challenge Council. Locomotive syndrome [internet]. Tokyo: The Locomotive Challenge! Council; 2015 [cited 2025 May 26]. Available from: https://locomo-joa.jp/assets/files/index_english.pdf.
Ikemoto T, Arai Y-C. Locomotive syndrome: clinical perspectives. Clin Interv Aging. 2018;13:819-27. doi: 10.2147/CIA.S148683.
Nakamura K, Ogata T. Locomotive syndrome: definition and management. Clin Rev Bone Miner Metab. 2016;14(2):56-67. doi: 10.1007/s12018-016-9208-2.
Niwayama M, Sakisaka K, Wongwatcharapaiboon P, Rattanachun V, Miyata S, Takahashi K. Prevalence of locomotive organ impairment and associated factors among middle-aged and older people in Nan province, Thailand. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2021;18(20):10871. doi: 10.3390/ijerph182010871.
Rittharomya J, Boontham J, Tempaiboolkul T. The prediction of locomotive syndrome based on health-promoting lifestyle in older adults living in urban areas. Kuakarun Journal of Nursing. 2023;30(2):197-211. (in Thai).
Matsumoto H, Hagino H, Wada T, Kobayashi E. Locomotive syndrome presents a risk for falls and fractures in the elderly Japanese population. Osteoporos Sarcopenia. 2016;2(3):156-63. doi: 10.1016/j.afos.2016.06.001.
Roy C. The Roy adaptation model. 3rd ed. Upper Saddle River, NJ: Pearson; 2009. 561 p.
Takenaka H, Ikemoto T, Suzuki J, Inoue M, Arai YC, Ushida T, et al. Association between trunk muscle strength, lumbar spine bone mineral density, lumbar scoliosis angle, and skeletal muscle volume and locomotive syndrome in elderly individuals: a dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry study. Spine Surg Relat Res. 2020;4(2):164-70. doi: 10.22603/ssrr.2019-008.
Nishikawa H, Fukunishi S, Asai A, Yokohama K, Nishiguchi S, Higuchi K. Pathophysiology and mechanisms of primary sarcopenia. Int J Mol Med. 2021;48:156. doi: 10.3892/ijmm.2021.4989.
Aravitska MH, Saienko OV. The influence of physical therapy on indicators of locomotive syndrome in elderly persons with osteoarthritis of the knee and obesity. Clin Prev Med. 2023;4(26):6-13. doi: 10.31612/2616-4868.4(26).2023.01.
Wu Q, Chan JS, Yan JH. Mild cognitive impairment affects motor control and skill learning. Rev Neurosci. 2016;27(2):197-217. doi: 10.1515/revneuro-2015-0020.
Maruya K, Fujita H, Arai T, Hosoi T, Ogiwara K, Moriyama S, et al. Identifying elderly people at risk for cognitive decline by using the 2-step test. J of Phys Ther Sci. 2018;30(1):145-9. doi: 10.1589/jpts.30.145.
Cizza G, Primma S, Csako G. Depression as a risk factor for osteoporosis. Trends Endocrinol Metab. 2009;20(8):367-73. doi: 10.1016/j.tem.2009.05.003.
Ikemoto T, Inoue M, Nakata M, Miyagawa H, Shimo K, Wakabayashi T, et al. Locomotive syndrome is associated not only with physical capacity but also degree of depression. J Orthop Sci. 2016;21(3):361-5. doi: 10.1016/j.jos.2016.01.003.
Boontham J, Areeua S, Wongvatunyu S, Roopsawang I, Tempaiboolkul T. The relationships among locomotive syndrome depressive symptom and quality of life in older adults living in rural areas. J Med Assoc Thai. 2020;103(8):796-803. doi: 10.35755/jmedassocthai.2020.08.11149.
Nakamura M, Hashizume H, Nomura S, Kono R, Utsunomiya H. The relationship between locomotive syndrome and depression in community-dwelling elderly people. Curr Gerontol Geriatr Res. 2017;2017:4104802. doi: 10.1155/2017/4104802.
Saito T, Watanabe H, Kikkawa I, Takeshita K. Evaluation of the association between locomotive syndrome and depressive states: a cross-sectional study. Nagoya J Med Sci. 2017;79(1):43-6. doi: 10.18999/nagjms.79.1.43.
Peduzzi P, Concato J, Kemper E, Holford TR, Feinstein AR. A simulation study of the number of events per variable in logistic regression analysis. J Clin Epidemiol. 1996;49(12):1373-9. doi: 10.1016/s0895-4356(96)00236-3.
Taniguchi M, Ikezoe T, Tsuboyama T, Tabara Y, Matsuda F, Ichihashi N. Prevalence and physical characteristics of locomotive syndrome stages as classified by the new criteria 2020 in older Japanese people: results from the Nagahama study. BMC Geriatr. 2021;21(1):1-10. doi: 10.1186/s12877-021-02440-2.
WHO Expert Consultation. Appropriate body-mass index for Asian populations and Its implications for policy and intervention strategies. Lancet. 2004;363(9403);157-63. doi: 10.1016/s0140-6736(03)15268-3.
Train the Brain Forum Committee. Thai mental state examination (TMSE). Siriraj Hosp Gaz. 1993;45(6):359-74. (in Thai).
Wongpakaran N, Wongpakaran T. Prevalence of major depressive disorders and suicide in long-term care facilities: a report from northern Thailand. Psychogeriatrics. 2012;12(1):11-1. doi: 10.1111/j.1479-8301.2011.00383.x.
Ishibashi Y, Nishida M, Hirai M, Uezono S, Kitakaze S, Kota M, et al. Association between locomotive syndrome and physical activity in long-term inpatients of psychiatric care wards in Japan: a preliminary study. Healthcare (Basel). 2022;10(9):1741. doi: 10.3390/healthcare10091741.
Momoki C, Habu D, Ogura J, Tada A, Hasei A, Sakurai K, et al. Relationships between sarcopenia and household status and locomotive syndrome in a community-dwelling elderly women in Japan. Geriatr Gerontol Int. 2017;17(1):54-60. doi: 10.1111/ggi.12674.
