Ricerc@Sapienza

Freezing of gait (FOG) is a leading cause of falls and fractures in Parkinson's disease (PD). The episodic and rather unpredictable occurrence of FOG, coupled with the variable response to L-DOPA of this gait disorder, makes the objective evaluation of FOG severity a major clinical challenge in the therapeutic management of patients with PD. The aim of this study was to examine and compare gait, clinically and objectively, in patients with PD, with and without FOG, by means of a new wearable system.

Balance impairment is a major mechanism behind falling along with environmental hazards. Under physiological conditions, ageing leads to a progressive decline in balance control per se. Moreover, various neurological disorders further increase the risk of falls by deteriorating specific nervous system functions contributing to balance. Over the last 15 years, significant advancements in technology have provided wearable solutions for balance evaluation and the management of postural instability in patients with neurological disorders.