May 42 min read

Freezing of Gait

26% of people with mild Parkinson's symptoms experience freezing of gait. 80% of people with advanced Parkinson's experience freezing of gait. Freezing of gait is the sudden, involuntary inability to move. Some people feel like their feet are glued to the floor and like they they are telling their legs to move but they won't listen. Freezing of gait is associated with a reduced quality of life, loss of independence, need for a wheelchair, increased rate of institutionalization, and mortality. While the science community does not fully understand the complexity of it all, let's cover what is known.

Common triggers

Walking through a doorway

Turning a corner

Transitioning from standing to walking

Turning around

Stepping from one type of surface to another (rug to hard wood floor)

Busy floors (rugs that have lines/blocks of different colors that go in different directions)

Multitasking

Navigating or experiencing a stressful situation

Walking in a narrow hallway

Treatment

Gait training on a treadmill

This can be done with or without a a body weight support system. A body weight support system may be found in outpatient facilities that are neuro rehab based (Sunnyview)
You can use a treadmill lines tapes to the treadmill to help take big steps. Talk with your physical therapist before attempting on your own.

General exercise

Improving endurance, flexibility, and strength will help tremendously. You will be more likely to freeze if you have endurance, flexibility, or strength deficits.

Physical therapy

Dual task training - working on two things at once like walking while putting a jacket on or climbing stairs while talking to someone on the phone
Balance training

External cueing

Using a metronome can help time when you should be taking steps
Listing to music of a certain speed/tempo can also help
Putting lines on the hallways or on the walls of your home if there are certain areas that freezing usually occurs
Using a laser beam on your walker to help take bigger steps. Click here for an example.
When turning around, pretend you are standing in the middle of a clock. Intentionally lift your leg high as you can and step to 12-9-6 when turning to the left. Step to 12-3-6 when turning to the right.

Cognitive behavioral therapy

If your freezing is triggered by stressful situations, working on stress management techniques can be helpful.

The 4 S's

The 4 S's are used in instances that you are freezing to help you move again. This may not help reduce instances of freezing, but it may help get you our of a freezing episode.