Abstract
Health conditions were surveyed among elderly persons (over sixty five years old) living in two towns in Kyoto prefecture in 1994. In this study, a second survey of symptoms was conducted among elderly persons in one town, and ADL (activity of daily living) disorders were simultaneously surveyed. Questionnaires were distributed and collected by mail. Nine hundred and thirty five elderly persons completed and returned the questionnaires.
Upon investigation it was found that the elderly living in this town had many symptoms and ADL disorders. The incidense of these symptoms was over two times greater than the mean value in the general elderly population nation wide. Symptoms noted included low back pain (43%), shoulder stiffness (34%), low back and lower limb pain (25%), knee joint pain (24%), heavy sensations in the lower limbs (24%), numbness (22%), heavy sensations in the low back (18%), shoulder pain (18%), foot pain (16%), lower thigh pain (13%), thigh pain (11%) and arm pain (11%) in descending order of frequency. Concerning ADL disorders, pain while going up or down stairs (34%), slight pain while walking (28%), difficulty while walking without stopping to rest (19%), impossibility in walking due to pain (5%) were also reported by many elderly people.
