A Survey of Locomotive Syndrome among the Staff of an Acute Care Hospital

Abstract

Objective: To survey the true prevalence of locomotive syndrome (Locomo) among the staff working in a hospital in order to consider counterplans for its prevention.

Methods: The levels of Locomo among the staff of an acute care hospital were examined by conducting Locomo tests (testing the ability to stand, two-step test, and administration of the Locomo 25 questionnaire) in 239 staff members in their 20s to 50s (average age, 39.20 ± 10.31 years; 63 men and 176 women). The results were analyzed by age and occupation, and statistical analysis was performed using SPSS.

Results: The Locomo test revealed that 62 staff members (25.9%) had Locomo. The percentage of individuals in their 50s with Locomo increased by approximately three times that of those in their 40s. When analyzed by applicable items, the percentages of Locomo 25 alone and both motor function and Locomo 25 increased in nurses in their 50s, while the doctors, office workers, and technical staff showed a significant increase in the proportion of decreased motor functions alone in their 50s in comparison with that in their 40s or younger. The results of the Japan Low Back Pain Evaluation Questionnaire suggested that low back pain was related to Locomo in nurses in whom the proportion of women was significantly higher than that in other occupations.

Conclusions: In this study, the rates of Locomo by age group were different from those reported previously, possibly due to the differences in occupation and sex analyzed. For nurses, as back pain may have been a factor causing Locomo in their 50s, measures of back pain are important for the prevention of Locomo.