14 Fox Focus | Living with Parkinson ’ s
Dr . Dolhun Talks PD
Don ’ t Get Stuck : Tips for Moving through Freezing with Parkinson ’ s
Rachel Dolhun , MD , DipABLM , is a movement disorder specialist , lifestyle medicine physician and senior vice president of medical communications at MJFF .
Freezing , or freezing of gait , can be a real challenge for some people and families with Parkinson ’ s . This is when the feet feel stuck to the ground , and you can ’ t move forward for a short time ( although it can feel like forever !). Freezing doesn ’ t happen in everyone but may be more likely the longer you live with disease .
Freezing can happen for different reasons . It may come on when medication wears off , shortly before the next dose of levodopa is due . Or it can happen for seemingly no reason at all . Some people notice triggers — walking in small , crowded or unfamiliar spaces , passing through doorways or turning around , or feeling stressed or rushed .
Adjusting levodopa or adding other Parkinson ’ s medications may lessen freezing . But , in general , freezing is tough to treat . That ’ s why The Michael J . Fox Foundation is leading efforts to better study , understand and treat freezing . And it ’ s why research developments to better treat freezing ( see page 12 ) hold so much hope and promise .
Until new treatments are here , though , what can you and your loved ones do to manage freezing ? Consider these tips :
+ Acknowledge the freeze . Don ’ t fight a freezing spell . Stop . Take a deep breath . Try to relax . Do a mental practice run of your next movement before attempting it again .
The medical information contained in this newsletter is for general information purposes only . The Michael J . Fox Foundation for Parkinson ’ s Research has a policy of refraining from advocating , endorsing or promoting any drug therapy , course of treatment , or specific company or institution . It is crucial that care and treatment decisions related to Parkinson ’ s disease and any other medical condition be made in consultation with a physician or other qualified medical professional .