Clinical characteristics of locomotive syndrome categorised by the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale: a systematic review

OBJECTIVES: The purpose of this study was to compile the currently available evidence on the clinical characteristics of the locomotive syndrome (LS) categorised by the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25) and clarify its clinical usefulness for assessing mobility function. DESIGN: Systematic review. DATA SOURCES: The PubMed and Google Scholar were searched for the relevant studies on 20 March 2022. ELIGIBILITY CRITERIA: We included relevant peer-reviewed articles, available in English language, on clinical LS characteristics categorised with the GLFS-25. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Pooled ORs or mean differences (MDs) of the LS groups were calculated and compared with the non-LS groups for each clinical characteristic. RESULTS: In total, 27 studies that involve 13 281 participants (LS, n=3385; non-LS, n=9896) were examined in this analysis. Older age (MD 4.71; 95% (CI) 3.97 to 5.44; p<0.00001), female gender (OR 1.54; 95% CI 1.38 to 1.71; p<0.00001), higher body mass index (MD 0.78; 95% CI 0.57 to 0.99; p<0.00001), osteoporosis (OR 1.68; 95% CI 1.32 to 2.13; p<0.0001), depression (OR 3.14; 95% CI 1.81 to 5.44; p<0.0001), lower lumbar lordosis angle (MD −7.91; 95% CI −10.08 to −5.74; p<0.00001), higher spinal inclination angle (MD 2.70; 95% CI 1.76 to 3.65; p<0.00001), lower grip strength (MD −4.04; 95% CI −5.25 to −2.83; p<0.00001), lower back muscle strength (MD −15.32; 95% CI −23.83 to −6.81; p=0.0004), lower maximum stride (MD −19.36; 95% CI −23.25 to −15.47; p<0.00001), higher timed up-and-go (MD 1.36; 95% CI 0.92 to 1.79; p<0.00001), lower one-leg standing time (MD −19.13; 95% CI −23.29 to −14.97; p<0.0001) and slower normal gait speed (MD −0.20; 95% CI −0.22 to −0.18; p<0.0001) were found to be associated with LS. No significant differences were noted in other clinical characteristics between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: GLFS-25 is clinically useful for assessing mobility function according to the evidence available on the clinical characteristics of LS categorised by the GLFS-25 questionnaire items until.