Associations of Skeletal Muscle Mass and Percent Body Fat with Balance, Gait, and Locomotive Syndrome Risk in Community-dwelling Older Women

Objectives: Locomotive syndrome (LS) is prevalent among older adults, particularly women, and is a major contributor to the need for long-term care. In rapidly aging Japan, addressing LS has become a public health priority. Although skeletal muscle mass, percent body fat (PBF), balance, and walking speed have each been linked to LS, their interrelationships remain unclear. This study examined how muscle mass and PBF are associated with LS risk in relation to balance and walking speed.