Freezing in PD
People who know about freezing in Parkinson's Disease (PD) usually think of 'freezing of gait' (FOG) or the experience of being unable to initiate a step. It can feel like one's feet are stuck to the floor. But someone with PD can also experience freezing of arm and hand movements, freezing of speech, or cognitive freezing where they lose their train of thought or momentarily forget what they are doing. These resources will help you understand freezing and what can be done to prevent freezing and to get 'unstuck.'
Downloadable Documents | Online Articles | Videos, Podcasts & Webinars
Freezing
Published by Parkinson's UK, November 2018
This 20-page PDF discusses what freezing is, why people freeze, where and when it can happen, who freezing is likely to affect, whether freezing is the same as having an OFF episode, whether freezing can be dangerous, treatment options, and what you can do to help yourself, including movement strategies and cueing. There is a short section on what to do if you freeze in a busy place.
Freezing and Parkinson's
Published by the Parkinson’s Foundation
Learn what freezing is, what causes or triggers freezing, why freezing it dangerous, how to manage freezing episodes, tricks to get moving again, and how someone can help you during a freezing episode.
5 Tricks to Move Through Freezing Episodes in Parkinson's Disease
Published by the Michael J. Fox Foundation, February 4, 2015
A list of five things to try if you experience freezing of gait.
6 Ways to Reduce Parkinson's Freezing of Gait
By Sarah King, PT, DPT. Published by the Davis Phinney Foundation, March 14, 2019
If you experience freezing of gait, the first course of action is to maximize your PD meds to keep you in an ON state for longer. However, there is a cognitive component of freezing that medication and deep brain stimulation (DBS) do not help. Therefore, the best treatment option is to work with a physical therapist to retrain your brain, wear the right shoes, walk with intention, keep your feet wide, keep your head up, and shake off your stress.
Ten Tips to put the Freeze on Freezing!
Published by the American Parkinson Disease Association
A list of 10 things to try if you experience freezing of gait.
Freezing
By Parkinson's UK
This lenghthy webpage discusses freezing of gait and how to help yourself, including two short videos with tips. The first video is 2-minutes demonstrating how to use masking tape on the floor as a visual cue to overcome freezing of gait. The second video is a 45-second clip showing how a person with PD uses a clip-on metronome to prevent freezing while walking.
Freezing of Gait in Parkinson's Disease
Published by the American Parkinson Disease Association, April 9, 2019
This short webpage explains what freezing of gait is, why it occurs, and treatment. It also offers 10 tips to prevent freezing or get 'unstuck.' Finally, there is a discussion of walkers that can prevent injury due to falls when freezing episodes are severe and the future of treatments for freezing of gait.
Overcoming "Freeze"
By Editorial Team, Published by ParkinsonsDisease.net, March 24, 2017
This short article briefly describes freezing but focuses on the negative consequences of freezing and techniques to overcome freezing.
To Freeze or Not to Freeze: Strategies to Circumvent Freezing
By Marina Noordegraaf, Published in the Sparks Blog, April 2, 2019
A discussion of how the blogger circumvents mental freezing in the same ways people with PD overcome freezing of gait. She found inspiration in an article by Jorik Nonnekes, et. al., which collected videos of patients who bypassed freezing episodes and supplemented their findings with literature research. The end result is the dozens of unique freezing compensation strategies visualized in this blog post.
Current Approaches and Hurdles in Parkinson’s Disease Freezing of Gait
By Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, November 12, 2019
In this 52-minute talk Lan Luo, MD, from the Parkinson’s Disease and Movement Disorders Center at BIDMC explains freezing of gait (FOG), including how FOG manifests, FOG triggers, 'on,' vs. 'off' FOG, the brain pathways that are implicated in FOG, who gets FOG, several available treatments, and how to avoid falls.
Freezing of Gait
By The Lancet TV, July 13, 2015
This two and a half minute video shows a patient with PD manifesting the typical features of freezing of gait. The first segment shows the walking pattern during the off-phase. The freezing of gait episodes have an intermittent character and worsen when turning and while approaching a narrow passage (crossing a doorway). The second and third segments show the beneficial effect of visual and auditory cueing. The fourth segment shows the patient during the on-phase, showing a clear therapeutic effect of dopaminergic medication.
Freezing of Gait
By PD-Connect, April 1, 2023
Physical therapist Maria Allen, PT, shares the cluster of Parkinson's (PD) symptoms that tend to go together and include freezing of gait. She explains what freezing is, why it happens in people with PD, and that it doesn't just affect walking, but can also affect thinking, speech, and the hands. Most of the hour is spent discussing how a physical therapist should help you retrain habits to compensate for freezing and maintain independence. Finally, she discusses how to find a physical therapist who specializes in treating PD and answers questions.
Freezing of Gait & Interventions For Freezing Triggers. Tips for people with Parkinson's
By Mia Boelen, Published by Parkinson's PT, July 3, 2021
Miriam "Mia" Boelen, PT, specialized in the treatment of those with PD from 1990 until her retirement in 2019. In this 27-minute video she demonstrates a 4-step method of specific maneuvers to break a freezing of gait episode. She also discusses common triggers and situational freezing, like crowded areas with tips for overcoming freezing in every case.
Freezing of Gait in PD
By PD-Connect, October 7, 2024
Physical therapist and postural instability researcher at UCSF Jessica Bath, PhD, DPT, talks about her research into the underlying pathophysiology of movement disorders and the role of physical therapy interventions that can improve motor function and quality of life.
Freezing or Sweating Falls When Walking with Parkinson's Disease
By the Parkinson's Foundation, January 16, 2018
In this 1-hour webinar Fay B. Horak, PhD, PT, shares ways to improve brain function to minimize freezing and falls with Parkinson's Disease. Viewers will understand how the brain controls walking and balance, discover what types of balance and gait impairments in Parkinson’s disease result in freezing and falls and explore what can be done to minimize freezing and falls.
Innovative Technologies for Freezing of Gait
By American Parkinson Disease Association, April 2024
In this 30-minute episode of Let's Keep Moving with APDA, physical therapist Teresa Baker, DPT, and research scientist Franchino Porciuncula, EdD, PT, DScPT, discuss exciting new research that is giving people with PD who experience freezing of gait (FOG) new hope. Speakers cover the reasons why FOG occurs, and the different types of technology to prevent this from happening and Dr. Porciuncula shares the latest research related to technology and FOG.
Overcoming Freezing of Gait: Tips, Tricks, and Tech
By American Parkinson Disease Association, June 4, 2024
In this 30-minute episode of Let's Keep Moving with APDA, Tim Nordahl, DPT, talks with moderator Nick Wendel, DPT about the complexities of freezing episodes and shares exercises, environmental modifications, assistive devices, and effective strategies to regain mobility and independence with confidence and resilience.
Parkinson's & Freezing of Gait
By PMD Alliance, March 27, 2019
During his time at the Stanford Movement Disorders Center Brent Bluett, DO, researched indicators for who is most likely to develop freezing of gait (FOG) in PD. In this 45-minute Lunch with Docs episode Dr. Bluett provides an overview of FOG, shares tips for breaking a freeze, treatment options (medication management, physical therapy), summarizes the results of his research and other research into FOG. He spends about half the webinar answering questions.
Strategies to Improve Walking and Freezing of Gait
By American Parkinson Disease Association, March 2022
In this 30-minute episode of Let's Keep Moving with APDA, Nick Wendel, DPT, speaks with moderator Kameron Jacobson about what freezing of gait (FOG) is, when freezing of gait can happen, and six strategies to get unstuck from a freeze, along with listener Q&A.
Thawing Out - Strategies to Reduce Freezing in Parkinson's Disease
By Parkinson Society British Columbia, September 21, 2020
In this 1-hour webinar neuro-physiotherapist Shelly Yu discusses how freezing manifests itself in different parts of the body, the complexities of why people with PD freeze, barriers to treatment of freezing, what works to prevent or break a freeze, like cueing. Shelly shares agility/cognitive exercises that help keep the body and brain working together.
Last updated April 2025 by Stanford Parkinson's Community Outreach
