Open AccessCharacteristics of Locomotive Syndrome in Japanese Patients with Chronic Pain and Results of a Path Analysis Confirming the Relevance of a Vicious Cycle Involving Locomotive Syndrome, Musculoskeletal Pain, and Its Psychological Factors
Author(s) -
Michiko Ushio,
Masahiko Sumitani,
Hiroaki Abe,
Kazuhito Mietani,
Jun Hozumi,
Ryo Inoue,
Rika Tsuchida,
Takahiro Ushida,
Yosuke Yamada
Publication year - 2019
Publication title -
jma journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
eISSN - 2433-3298
pISSN - 2433-328X
DOI - 10.31662/jmaj.2019-0009
Subject(s) - physical therapy , medicine , anxiety , quality of life (healthcare) , depression (economics) , back pain , chronic pain , population , physical medicine and rehabilitation , psychiatry , alternative medicine , nursing , environmental health , pathology , economics , macroeconomics
The current aging population has a major impact on public health. Locomotive syndrome (LS) is a condition that carries a high risk for developing systemic musculoskeletal disability.Methods: Participants were patients with chronic pain (n = 415) who were examined at the Japanese multidisciplinary pain centers of the research consortium. They completed the 25-question geriatric locomotive function scale (GLFS-25; LS screening tool), an 11-point numerical rating scale (NRS) of pain intensity and its psychological distresses, health-related quality of life (HRQOL) questionnaire, and a survey of exercise habits. A multifaceted analysis of the relevance of the pain, psychological distresses, and LS were conducted using SPSS and AMOS software.Results: 337 patients (81.2%) were found to have LS. The final model of a multifaceted analysis demonstrated good fitness for the “vicious cycle” model among the results of LS, pain intensity, impairment of self-efficacy, and depression; these parameters independently impaired HRQOL. Anxiety related to falling (GLFS-25) and exercise habits affected the model.Conclusions: These findings indicate LS, LS-related pain, and psychological distress create a vicious cycle, resulting in the impairment of HRQOL. Treatment strategies for LS should inclusively focus on musculoskeletal disorders, pain, and pain-related psychological factors.