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Updated: May 31, 2026

Applying the RatWalker System for Gait Analysis in a Genetic Rat Model of Parkinson's Disease
Published on: January 18, 2021
The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying freezing of gait in Parkinson's Disease
J M Shine1, S L Naismith, S J G Lewis
1Parkinson's Disease Research Clinic, Brain and Mind Research Institute, Level 4, Building F, 94 Mallett Street, University of Sydney, Camperdown, New South Wales 2050, Australia.
Abstract:
Freezing of gait is a paroxysmal phenomenon most commonly found in patients with advanced Parkinson's Disease. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying this behaviour remain uncertain despite a well-characterised phenotype. Freezing behaviour extends beyond gait to affecting speech and upper limb function, suggesting that there is likely to be a universal mechanism underlying the phenomenon. This paper identifies the essential features required for a comprehensive model of freezing and evaluates a number of hypotheses that seek to explain the phenomenon. It appears likely that the pathophysiology of freezing involves context-dependant dysfunction across multiple levels of the neurological system, including cortical, subcortical and brainstem regions.
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