Freezing of Gait

A common and debilitating symptom of Parkinson's Disease in which a person suddenly and temporarily feels as though their feet are glued to the floor, despite intending to walk. Freezing episodes typically last seconds to minutes and are a major cause of falls and loss of independence. They often occur when initiating walking, turning, navigating narrow spaces, or during stressful situations. Wearable technology and sensor systems are being developed to detect freezing episodes in real time and provide audio or visual cues (such as rhythmic sounds or laser lines on the floor) to help people resume walking, representing an important application of assistive technology for mobility.