Freezing in Parkinson's may be triggered by spatial awareness
problems
24 June 2010
New research suggests that people with Parkinson's who are prone
to freezing - suddenly being unable to move - may have difficulty
gauging how much space they need for passing through small spaces
like doorways.
Understanding what triggers freezing will help us to come up with new ways to prevent and manage this debilitating problem.
Dr Kieran Breen, Director of Research
The findings, published in the Journal of Neurology,
Neurosurgery and Psychiatry, could lead to new ways of treating
this common problem in Parkinson's.
What the researchers did
In the study, researchers measured step size and speed as people
approached 3 different doorways – one normal size, one double the
normal width, and one narrower than normal but still wide enough to
get through.
People who were prone to freezing had greatest difficulty with
the narrowest doorway. Even before they got to the doorway, their
walking patterns changed significantly.
Problems with spatial perception were also highlighted in a
previous study where people who froze told researchers that they
actually felt too big to get through normal sized doorways.
Understanding why people freeze
Dr Kieran Breen, our Director of Research comments:
"This study suggests that how people with Parkinson’s perceive
their surroundings may be an important factor in why people
freeze.
"Our 2007 members' survey revealed
that 45% of people with Parkinson's reported having difficulties
with freezing, negotiating doorways or walking in confined
spaces.
"Understanding what triggers freezing will help us to come up
with new ways for people with Parkinson’s to prevent and manage
this debilitating problem."
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