More About "Freezing"

A: There are at least two types of "freezing" symptoms. One group occurs in the "off" period, that is, it accompanies slowness of movements, tremor, and whatever other Parkinsonian symptoms the person has when the medication is not having effect. This type of freezing is usually treated along with the other Parkinsonian symptoms, i.e. by adjusting anti-Parkinsonian medications to improve mobility and reduce stiffness. A second type of freezing occurs in the "on" period, i.e. while anti-Parkinsonian medications are having effect and the other Parkinsonian symptoms are improved. There is no reliable treatment for this type of freezing, although there is ongoing active research in this area. Some people find certain "tricks" helpful, e.g. stepping over an obstacle (e.g. a flexible flap attached to the bottom of a cane) or imagining marching band music. However, these tricks don't work for everyone, and they often stop working after a while.

Q: Are there specific treatments for the "freezing" when walking?

A: Unfortunately "freezing" is actually a description of a SYMPTOM of Parkinson's disease. The natural flow of movement can be hampered due to this symptom of Parkinson's. It refers to sudden temporary difficulty initiating or continuing a movement. The patient can actually feel as if they are "frozen" in one spot. Freezing of gait, the most common form of freezing, consists of sudden halting of leg movement during walking, which lasts a few seconds and then suddenly disappears. Freezing can sometimes be interrupted by certain "tricks." One of these tricks is to place a visual target or obstacle in front of the foot that is "stuck" to the floor. For example, the examining physician can place his/her foot just in front of the "frozen" foot, and suddenly the patient can step over the foot and start walking again. The laser version of this trick consists of shining the beam of a laser pointer on the floor just in front of the foot that is frozen. The patient then tries to step onto or over the light spot. Having this visual target on the floor can reduce freezing.