[Fall risk and fracture. Locomotive syndrome and fall]

Abstract

Locomotive syndrome means a condition at a risk for requiring nursing care due to deteriorated musculoskeletal organs in the middle-aged and older people. Considering that this concept aims to care prevention and that fracture for fall consists of one-tenth of causes for requiring using care, fall prevention should be an important goal of preventing or improving locomotive syndrome. As a matter of fact, locomotion check - a short form for predicting locomotive syndrome- contains items evaluating fall risk, and locomotion training - recommended exercises designated for strengthening muscles of lower extremities and balance - likely to decrease future incidence of falls. Thus, locomotive syndrome seems to be deeply related to prevention of falls as well as care prevention.