title: The walk-bicycle: A new assistive device for Parkinson's patients with freezing of gait?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies reported a preserved ability to cycle in freezers, creating opportunities for restoring mobility and independence. However, use of a bicycle is not always feasible. Here, we investigated the effectiveness of a "walk-bicycle" in reducing freezing of gait (FOG).
  
  
  METHODS
  Eighteen Parkinson patients with FOG performed the following tasks, each four times, with and without the walk-bicycle: (1) normal walking; (2) walking with small steps, at normal speed; (3) walking with small steps, as rapidly as possible.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Seven patients showed FOG during walking without the walk-bicycle. In those patients, the walk-bicycle afforded a 12% reduction of time frozen (p = 0.026). In 11 patients no FOG was observed during walking without the walk-bicycle. Two of them showed FOG when using the walk-bicycle.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The walk-bicycle may help to reduce FOG in some patients, but not in all. Future studies need to evaluate its usefulness in a home environment.
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Neurology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands. Electronic address: Claudia.Stummer@radboudumc.nl.
authors.forename: Claudia
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Stummer
authors.affiliation: Department GF Ingrassia, Section of Neurosciences, University of Catania, Italy; Radboud University Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Rehabilitation, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Valeria
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Dibilio
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Neurology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Sebastiaan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Overeem
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Rehabilitation, Nijmegen, The Netherlands; Sint Maartenskliniek Research, Development & Education, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Vivian
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Weerdesteyn
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Neurology, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Bastiaan R
authors.initials: BR
authors.lastname: Bloem
authors.affiliation: Radboud University Medical Centre, Donders Institute for Brain, Cognition and Behaviour, Department of Rehabilitation, Nijmegen, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jorik
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Nonnekes
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D001642:Bicycling; D005260:Female; D020233:Gait Disorders, Neurologic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010300:Parkinson Disease / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000628:therapy*; D012656:Self-Help Devices; D016138:Walking
keywords: Freezing of gait; Parkinson's disease; Rehabilitation