Associations between locomotive and non-locomotive physical activity and physical performance in older community-dwelling females with and without locomotive syndrome: a cross-sectional study

Tomohiro Nishimura,Atsushi Hagio,Kanako Hamaguchi,Kiyoshi Sanada,Motoyuki Iemitsu,Toshiyuki Kurihara

doi:10.1186/s40101-021-00268-8

Abstract

BackgroundLocomotive syndrome (LS) is a condition of reduced mobility due to a disorder of the locomotive system. Increasing moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) has been recommended to prevent LS. However, to increase daily MVPA is difficult for older people with LS. The MVPA consists of not only locomotive activities such as walking but also non-locomotive activities such as household activities. The aim of this study was to examine the associations between locomotive/non-locomotive MVPA and physical performance in older females with and without LS.MethodsParticipants of this cross-sectional study were 143 older community-dwelling Japanese females. The participants were divided into two groups based on the results of the stand-up test: the normal group (NL) (n = 86) and the LS group (n = 57). Both the locomotive and non-locomotive PA seperately measured with its intensity. The intensity of physical activity (PA) was calculated as METs and classified as sedentary behavior (SB 1–1.5 metabolic equivalent tasks (METs)), low-intensity physical activity (LPA 1.6–2.9 METs), and MVPA (≥ 3 METs). For example, locomotive LPA is slow walking speed of 54 m/min, and locomotive MVPA is walking speed of 67 m/min. While non-locomotive LPA is office work and cooking, non-locomotive MVPA is housecleaning. Physical function was evaluated by handgrip strength, walking speed, and 2-step test.ResultsWalking speed, hand-grip strength, 2-step test, daily step counts, and all PA measurements were not significantly different between two groups. In the LS, locomotive MVPA (r = 0.293, p < 0.05) and total MVPA (r = 0.299, p < 0.05) was significantly correlated with walking speed, but not in the NL.ConclusionsWalking speed was positively correlated with locomotive MVPA and total MVPA in the LS group, but not in NL group. This result suggests that slow walking speed in older people with LS occur in connection with lower locomotive MVPA and total MVPA.

Highlights

Locomotive syndrome (LS) is a condition of reduced mobility due to a disorder of the locomotive system
Kobayashi et al [5] conducted a 5-year cohort study to investigate the risk of LS in 113 Japanese communitydwelling older individuals using physical functional tests proposed by the Japanese Orthopedics Association (JOA) (i.e., the 2-step test, stand-up test, and the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25)), and reported that screening for LS risk is useful for predicting future motor dysfunction in middleaged and older people
Step counts and all physical activity (PA) measured by using a triaxial accelerometer were significantly different in daily step counts, total locomotive PA, and locomotive moderate to vigorous physical activity (MVPA) by the unpaired t-test, but not significantly different between the two groups by analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) adjusted for age and weight

Summary

Introduction

Locomotive syndrome (LS) is a condition of reduced mobility due to a disorder of the locomotive system, including bones, joints, muscles, and nerves [1, 2], which proposed by the Japanese Orthopedics Association (JOA) in 2007 [1]. This concept had established by the evidence that the most older people, who were required care services, have locomotive problems [1, 2]. With a focus on extending healthy life span, MHLW proposed a plan “Healthy Japan 21”, which recommends walking 8500 steps a day in the case of 18–64 age, and walking 6000 steps a day in the case of 65 age and over (equivalent to 60 min of MVPA per day including walking and ADL) in order to increase PA [8]

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