Locomotive syndrome in women with musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2026.163

Dobrokhotova Yu.E., Khashukoeva A.Z., Naumov A.V., Nosova L.A., Agaeva M.I., Kuznetsov D.A.
1) Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia; 2) Russian Gerontological Scientific and Clinical Center, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, Moscow, Russia

There ae more than 21 million postmenopausal women in Russia. Estrogen deficiency in postmenopause contributes to the development of osteoporosis, sarcopenia, and osteoarthritis, leading to mobility impairments. The concept of locomotive syndrome (LS) has been proposed for integral assessment of these impairments. However, LS in women with musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause (MSM) is understudied.
Objective. To explore the prevalence and severity of LS in women aged 50–60 with climacteric syndrome (CS) and MSM.
Materials and methods. The cross-sectional study included 180 postmenopausal women of 50–60 years of age with musculoskeletal diseases (osteoarthritis, osteopenia, osteoporosis, sarcopenia). The severity of CS (mild, moderate, severe) was evaluated using the Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS). LS was assessed using the stand-up test, the two-step test, and the 25-question Geriatric Locomotive Function Scale (GLFS-25). Bone mineral density (BMD was assessed using Radiofrequency Echographic Multi Spectrometry (REMS). The skeletal muscle mass was measured by bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA). Statistical data processing was performed using the Kruskal–Wallis test, Pearson’s chi-squared test, and Spearmans’s correlation.
Results. LS was detected in 88.3% of women. Stage 1 LS was in 43.9%, stage 2 LS was in 20.0%, stage 3 LS was in 24.4%. The frequency of stage 3 LS was high in women with moderate CS (43.9%), and low in women with severe CS (10.7%), p<0.0001. Osteoarthritis was diagnosed in 72.8% of women, osteopenia in 39.7%, osteoporosis in 28.9%, and sarcopenia in 11.6%; and 35.0% of patients reported back pain. The prevalence of osteoarthritis was significantly higher in the group with severe CS (82.1%) compared to the group with mild CS (60.3%), p=0.026. Sarcopenia was significantly more common in the group with moderate CS (21.2%) compared to the groups with mild CS (3.5%) and severe CS (8.9%), p=0.0063. In patients with severe CS, femoral neck BMD (0.84±0.17 g/cm²) was significantly higher compared to the group with moderate CS (0.71±0.16 g/cm²), p<0.0001. A similar trend was noted for spine BMD (0.95±0.16 versus 0.87±0.16 g/cm², p=0.0375). The skeletal muscle mass assessed by BIA, was also high in the group with severe CS (23.33±3.16 kg) compared to the group with moderate CS (21.35±3.40 kg), p=0.0072. Women with CS tended to have lower vitamin D with increasing severity of CS (29.14±8.55 ng/ml in the group with mild CS, 28.03±8.75 ng/ml in the group with moderate CS, and 25.80±8.51 ng/ml in the group with severe CS, p=0.0948).
Conclusion. High prevalence of LS was in women aged 50–60 with CS and MSM. The most severe mobility impairments were associated with moderate course of CS and prolonged postmenopause.

Authors' contributions. Dobrokhotova Yu.E., Khashukoeva A.Z., Naumov A.V., Nosova L.A. – the study concept and design; Nosova L.A., Agaeva M.I., Kuznetsov A.D. – material collection and processing, statistical data processing; Khashukoeva A.Z., Nosova L.A. – manuscript writing; Dobrokhotova Yu.E., Khashukoeva A.Z., Naumov A.V. – manuscript editing.
Conflicts of interest. The authors declare that they have no conflict of interests.
Funding. The study was carried out without any sponsorship.
Ethical Approval. The study was approved by the local Ethics Committee of Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia (protocol No. 213 of December 13, 2021).
Generative Artificial Intelligence. No generative AI was used in preparing this article.
Patient Consent for Publication. The patients have signed informed consent for publication of their data.
Authors' Data Sharing Statement. The data supporting the findings of this study are available on request from the corresponding author after approval from the principal investigator.
For citation: Dobrokhotova Yu.E., Khashukoeva A.Z., Naumov A.V., Nosova L.A., Agaeva M.I., Kuznetsov D.A. Locomotive syndrome in women with musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause.
Akusherstvo i Ginekologiya/Obstetrics and Gynecology. 2026; (7): 136-144 (in Russian)
https://dx.doi.org/10.18565/aig.2026.163

climacteric syndrome

locomotive syndrome

postmenopause

osteoporosis

sarcopenia

mobility impairments

the Greene Climacteric Scale (GCS)

REMS

GLFS-25

Full text (in Russian)

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Received 12.05.2026

Accepted 07.07.2026

Yulia E. Dobrokhotova, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Head of the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Surgery, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ostrovityanova str., 1, pr.dobrohotova@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7830-2290
Asiyat Z. Khashukoeva, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor, Professor at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Surgery, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ostrovityanova str., 1; obstetrician-gynecologist, Russian Gerontological Research and Clinical Center, 129226, Russia, Moscow, 1st Leonova str., 16, azk05@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7591-6281
Anton V. Naumov, Dr. Med. Sci., Professor at the Department of Diseases of Aging, Faculty of Additional Professional Education, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ostrovityanova str., 1; Head of the Laboratory of Diseases of the Musculoskeletal System, Russian Gerontological Research and Clinical Center, 129226, Russia, Moscow, 1st Leonova str., 16, nanton@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6253-621X
Lilia A. Nosova, Teaching Assistant at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Surgery, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University,
Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Moscow, Ostrovityanova str., 1, karelina_lilia@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0925-3755
Madina I. Agaeva, PhD, Teaching Assistant at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University, Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Russia, Moscow, Ostrovityanova str., 1, madlen1690@mail.ru, https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5138-8357
Dmitriy A. Kuznetsov, Resident at the Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Institute of Surgery, Pirogov Russian National Research Medical University,
Ministry of Health of Russia, 117997, Moscow, Ostrovityanova str., 1, kda7117@yandex.ru, https://orcid.org/0009-0003-9230-1109
Corresponding author: Asiyat Z. Khashukoeva, azk05@mail.ru

Locomotive syndrome in women with musculoskeletal syndrome of menopause

Dobrokhotova Yu.E., Khashukoeva A.Z., Naumov A.V., Nosova L.A., Agaeva M.I., Kuznetsov D.A.

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