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CLINICAL CONCEPT · MOBILITY · 5 MIN

Locomotive Syndrome: Japan named the problem.

A clinical framework proposed by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association to identify declining mobility related to the locomotor system.

Three things to know
01Locomotive Syndrome was introduced by the Japanese Orthopaedic Association to address declining locomotor function.
02The framework includes the Stand-Up Test, Two-Step Test and GLFS-25 questionnaire.
03It provides a reproducible starting point for following mobility over time, but it is not equivalent to a validated international “locomotor age”.

A whole-system view of mobility

The value of the concept is that it moves beyond a single joint or diagnosis. Walking, strength, balance, pain, the spine and daily activity all contribute to observable locomotor function.

Three simple assessment tools

The Stand-Up Test explores the ability to rise from standardized heights. The Two-Step Test relates the maximal length of two steps to body height. The GLFS-25 captures locomotor function and its impact on daily life.

What this changes for longevity

For longevity medicine, the useful question is not whether a new label can be added. It is whether mobility can be measured early, repeated under comparable conditions and interpreted as a trajectory.

Established evidenceFactual statements are grounded in the publications listed below.
KŌMØ perspectiveKŌMØ favours a multidimensional, longitudinal reading of mobility.
LimitsThis page is educational and does not replace medical assessment when a change is recent, marked or accompanied by other symptoms.

References

  1. Japanese Orthopaedic Association — LOCOMO Online
  2. Locomotive syndrome clinical practice guide 2021 — abridged English translation
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