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Research file Study: Freezing of gait (walking movement) in Parkinson’s disease may be a problem of space perception. Researcher: Chad A. Lebold, master of science graduate in Wilfrid Laurier University’s department of kinesiology and physical education. Study focus: Lebold designed experiments to determine the underlying causes of motor freezing episodes experienced by some Parkinson’s disease patients, along with the cues that could lead to an improved quality of life. His research project was called: Freezing of Gait in Parkinson’s Disease: A Perceptual Cause for a Motor Impairment? “Our goal was to challenge current beliefs that freezing is a motor impairment, instead suggesting that patients are having problems with space perception because of sensory-perceptual issues that interfere with movement,” Lebold said. Lebold examined the gait of three different groups of subjects — those with Parkinson’s disease and freezing episodes, those with Parkinson’s disease but no freezing, and a control group) as they walked toward doorways of varying widths. The goal was to determine how their behaviour was affected by doorway size. Parkinson’s patients who experience freezing episodes showed the greatest change in gait as they approached the narrow doorway, with more gait variability, shorter steps and widening their base of support. “Combining visual feedback aids in perceptually demanding conditions gave us a greater understanding of the deficits associated with gait in Parkinson’s disease,” Lebold said. “We were surprised to find that even Parkinson’s patients who do not experience freezing were influenced by the perception of a narrow doorway and exhibited behaviours similar to those with freezing.” The study emphasized the importance of thinking outside the box and questioning what the underlying mechanism for clinical motor impairments might be, said Quincy Almeida, study co-author and an associate professor of kinesiology and physical education, as well as director of the Sun Life Financial Movement Disorders Research and Rehabilitation Centre. “The results of this research hopefully will provide a greater understanding of one of the most debilitating disorders associated with Parkinson’s disease,” Lebold said. “The findings could also impact the direction of future research, hopefully leading to successful intervention and prevention strategies for gait disorders.” Future research will determine the specific aspects of the doorways that affect subjects’ walking patterns. Publication: Lebold’s manuscript will be published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry this fall. Lebold’s research was featured on Medscape Neurology, a news and education site for clinicians and health professionals, and was rated No. 5 by NeurologyLinx, an online index of articles for physicians and health-care professionals. Source: Wilfrid Laurier University public affairs. ---------------------------------------------------------------------- To sign-off Parkinsn send a message to: mailto:[log in to unmask] In the body of the message put: signoff parkinsn