Lifestyle and physical factors associated with locomotive syndrome severity among workers: A cross-sectional study

Locomotive syndrome (LS) is characterized by impaired mobility resulting from musculoskeletal dysfunction and may contribute to progressive functional decline. Although lifestyle-related factors are important determinants of workers’ health, their associations with LS severity remain insufficiently characterized in occupational populations. This preliminary and exploratory study investigated the lifestyle and physical factors associated with LS severity among manufacturing workers. This cross-sectional study included 541 manufacturing workers. LS severity was evaluated using the stand-up test, two-step test, and the 25-item Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25). To reduce sparsity in the advanced-stage category, participants were categorized into three groups: non-LS, LS Stage 1, and LS Stage 2–3. Ordinal logistic regression was performed using two models. Model I was an exploratory multivariable model adjusted for age, sex, and physical capacity, whereas Model II was a reduced exploratory model derived through backward variable elimination. Among all participants, 314 (58.0%) were classified as non-LS, 182 (33.6%) as LS Stage 1, and 45 (8.3%) as LS Stage 2–3. Subjective functional limitations identified by the GLFS-25 were more prevalent than measurable performance deficits detected by the stand-up or two-step tests. In the final model, the absence of regular exercise habits was associated with higher cumulative odds of greater LS severity (odds ratio [OR], 1.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.14–2.83). Insufficient subjective recovery from sleep was also associated with greater LS severity (OR, 1.46; 95% CI, 1.00–2.12). In this cohort of manufacturing workers, the GLFS-25 identified subjective functional limitations in a greater proportion of participants than the stand-up and two-step tests. The results indicate that the absence of regular exercise habits and insufficient subjective recovery from sleep are associated with greater LS severity. Longitudinal studies are required to confirm these associations and clarify their temporal and potentially causal relationships.