Author(s): ONUMA, N., NAKAJIMA, R., MATSUO, E., OGAWA, T., SHINDO, D., Institution: NIHON UNIVERSITY, Country: JAPAN, Abstract-ID: 1004

INTRODUCTION:
Japan is a super-aging society, and the number of older people suffering from diseases of the locomotor system, such as sarcopenia and osteoporosis, is increasing. Locomotor diseases are a challenge for health promotion as they can cause a person to become bedridden. Recent health promotions by community pharmacies have attracted attention. Although Europe and the United States have made various efforts, limited efforts have been made to prevent locomotor system diseases or verify their effectiveness in Japan. This study aimed to examine efforts to prevent musculoskeletal diseases in community pharmacies and evaluate their effectiveness.
METHODS:
We conducted physical (body composition, such as weight and muscle mass, locomotive syndrome risk test and grip strength) and conscious surveys (exercise habits and health awareness) among participants recruited from local pharmacies (three stores). The same measurements and surveys were obtained again approximately three months later (second time) to examine any changes.
RESULTS:
This study included 44 people (74.3±1.74 years) who participated in both the surveys. Physical examination revealed no significant differences in body composition or grip strength. The locomotive syndrome risk test consisted of a stand-up and two-step test. The percentage of people who fell under locomotive syndrome stage (LS stage) 3, those at high-risk of Locomotive Motion, was 13.6% in the first test. However, it reduced to 6.8% in the second test. The percentage of people with LS stage 2, a state that indicated progressed decline in mobility, decreased from 22.7% to 15.9%. Furthermore, those with LS stage 1, which indicated the beginning of a decline in mobility, increased from 63.6% to 77.3%. Regarding the awareness survey, 25% answered that they exercised more often and 58% reported that they became more conscious of their health after the first measurement.
CONCLUSION:
Although health support was implemented at pharmacies for three months, the rates related to locomotor disorders improved.