Abstract
Freezing of gait (FOG) is also referred to as “gait ignition failure,” the “slipping clutch syndrome,” or “magnetic gait.” FOG causes sudden but transient interruption of walking. Patients describe feeling as if their feet are “glued” or “stuck” to the floor. FOG is commonly observed while initiating gait (“start hesitation”) such as after getting up from a chair or getting out of a car. It often occurs while turning when it commonly causes sudden falls. It may also be caused by a visible obstacle in the path, walking through a doorway or narrow space, in a crowded or cluttered environment, or in a situation in which the patient is rushed or startled.
Keywords
- Multiple System Atrophy
- Progressive Supranuclear Palsy
- Motor Fluctuation
- Parkinsonian Syndrome
- Corticobasal Degeneration
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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PD-Freezing of gait.mp4 (MP4 42,377KB)
Clip 1: the patient has difficulty initiating gait in a cluttered space. He exhibits start-hesitation while turning when he takes several shuffling steps. Once he breaks free of freezing, he is able to walk normally for a short distance before FOG reappears. Gait is improved while stepping over an inverted cane. Clip 2: another patient with FOG demonstrates the benefits of using a cane fitted with a crossbar across his path.
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Bhidayasiri, R., Tarsy, D. (2012). Parkinson’s Disease: Freezing of Gait. In: Movement Disorders: A Video Atlas. Current Clinical Neurology. Humana, Totowa, NJ. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-426-5_8
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-60327-426-5_8
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Publisher Name: Humana, Totowa, NJ
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