title: Evaluation of physical therapy in parkinsonian patients with freezing of gait: a pilot study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  Freezing of gait is a frequently disabling symptom in Parkinson's disease, poorly responding to dopaminergic treatment. We investigated the short-term effectiveness of a rehabilitation protocol in parkinsonian patients with freezing of gait.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective, uncontrolled pilot study with open label design.
  
  
  METHODS
  Outpatient service for rehabilitation of neurological disorders.
  
  
  METHODS
  Twelve patients (8 male, 4 female; aged 59-78 years; Hoehn-Yahr stage: 2-3; mean disease duration: 14.2 +/- SD 4.1 years).
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients attended three (45 min) sessions every week, over a six-week period, of physical therapy focused to improve balance, postural control and walking, and to learn new strategies for overcoming freezing of gait.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients were evaluated before (T0), at the end (T1), and one month after (T2) rehabilitation by means of clinical rating scales (Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale--Motor Section; Freezing of Gait Questionnaire; Parkinson Disease Quality of Life Score) and gait parameters (number of strides, stride length and velocity) during a standardized walking test.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The scores of Freezing of Gait Questionnaire and of Parkinson Disease Quality of Life Questionnaire (but not of the Unified Parkinson Disease Rating Scale--Motor Section) were significantly improved after treatment (T1). Gait parameters were significantly improved at T1 and T2.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We showed the potential short-term efficacy of a rehabilitative approach to freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease. The positive outcome was documented by clinical rating scales and objective gait evaluation. The rapid reversibility of the clinical benefit suggests that further studies are needed to better define the optimal frequency and duration of treatment.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurosciences, Ophthalmology and Genetics, University of Genoa, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Brichetto
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pelosin
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marchese
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Abbruzzese
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D005081:Exercise Therapy; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies