How to Annotate Freezing of Gait from Video: A Standardized Method Using Open-Source Software.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Movement Disorders
• Parkinson's Disease Research

Background:

• Freezing of gait (FOG) is a debilitating symptom in Parkinson's disease (PD).
• Visual scoring of FOG from video is the current gold standard for assessment.
• Standardized guidelines for visual FOG scoring are currently lacking.

Purpose of the Study:

• To present a free, implementable template for annotating FOG from video using open-source software.
• To provide a user guide for standardizing FOG scoring and calculating the percentage of time with FOG (% FOG).
• To facilitate the use of % FOG as a reliable outcome measure in PD studies and therapeutic trials.

Main Methods:

• Development of a free video annotation template compatible with open-source software.
• Creation of a user guide detailing the implementation and standardization process for FOG scoring.
• Focus on quantifying the percentage of time spent with FOG (% FOG).

Main Results:

• A novel, free template for video-based FOG annotation is presented.
• A comprehensive user guide is provided to ensure standardized scoring.
• The method enables reliable calculation of % FOG.

Conclusions:

• The developed template and guide address the need for standardized FOG assessment in Parkinson's disease.
• Dissemination of this method will enhance the utility of % FOG as an outcome measure.
• This initiative supports more consistent and comparable research findings in FOG and PD.