Association of locomotive syndrome with present and past physical activities, and self-reported gait speed: A cross sectional study

The purpose of this study was to clarify the association of locomotive syndrome with present and past physical activities, as well as gait speed. Subjects were recruited from the participants of the specific health checkups in Oamishirasato City. The presence of locomotive syndrome was assessed using the stand-up test, two-step test, and 25-question geriatric locomotive function scale. Present physical activity was measured using the International Physical Activity Questionnaire. Questionnaires were also used to assess past physical activity and usual gait speed. The association of each locomotive syndrome risk test with the physical activities and gait speed was examined using univariate analysis and multiple logistic regression analysis. A total of 172 subjects with a mean age of 67.5 years were enrolled. Sixty-nine（40%）and 13（8%）subjects were classified as having stage 1 and 2 locomotive syndrome, respectively. Among the four groups classified by physical activity level, the proportions of subjects with positive stand-up test were higher in the groups of lowest and highest physical activity（P＝0.048）. Faster gait speed was a significant predictor of the negative two-step test（P＝0.08）, negative 25-question geriatric locomotive function scale（P＜0.001）, and absence of locomotive syndrome（P＝0.002）. The associations remained significant in the multiple regression analysis, after adjusting for age, sex, and body mass index. In conclusion, present physical activity was associated with the stand-up test, whereas self-reported usual gait speed was associated with the two-step test and 25-question geriatric locomotive function scale.