[Freezing of gait in patients with Parkinson's disease]

Objective. Freezing of gait (FOG) are the brief episodes of voluntary movement blocks in Parkinson`s disease and other variants of parkinsonism, which limit patient's mobility and decrease quality of life. Pathogenesis of FOG is still unclear. Authors studied characteristics of FOG in different stages of PD. Material and methods. Seventy patients were examined using different scales for assessment of clinical features. We measured the length, speed and cadence of gait and carried out a kinematic analysis of movements and stabilometry. Results and conclusion. FOG were found in 34.3% patients with PD, most of them were in advanced and late stages. FOG in off-periods were observed in 2/3 patients treated with levodopa, 1/3 of patients did not relate FOG with the periods of levodopa action. Turn and start FOG were noted more often. In patients with FOG, there were more expressed Parkinson's signs, especially axial symptoms, and more frequent urination disorders. The reduced speed of gait and asymmetry of gait were found as well. The kinematic analysis of gait revealed a correlation between the frequency of FOG and periods of support (and double support).