Functional freezing of gait: lessons from compensation
Jorik Nonnekes1, Marleen Tibben2, Lotte van de Venis3
1Radboud University Medical Centre; Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour; Department of Rehabilitation, Nijmegen, the Netherlands jorik.nonnekes@radboudumc.nl.
Abstract:
We highlight a specific and hitherto poorly characterised phenotype of functional gait impairments: functional freezing of gait. Unique to the presented case is the use of compensation strategies, many of which at first sight might appear to hint towards the presence of freezing of gait typical of Parkinson's disease or another form of Parkinsonism. Importantly, however, this patient's compensation strategies involved various inconsistent and incongruent elements, supporting the diagnosis of a functional neurological disorder. Recognising the features of functional freezing also helps to appreciate better the classical manifestations of freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease.
