Tuyển tập báo cáo các nghiên cứu khoa học quốc tế ngành hóa học dành cho các bạn yêu hóa học tham khảo đề tài: Reduction of freezing of gait in Parkinson’s disease by repetitive robot-assisted treadmill training: a pilot study | Lo et al. Journal of NeuroEngineering and Rehabilitation 2010 7 51 http content 7 1 51 JNER JOURNAL OF NEUROENGINEERING AND REHABILITATION RESEARCH Open Access Reduction of freezing of gait in Parkinson s disease by repetitive robot-assisted treadmill training a pilot study Albert C Lo1 2 3 Victoria C Chang2 4 Milena A Gianfrancesco 1 Joseph H Friedman2 4 Tara S Patterson1 2 Douglas F Benedicto1 Abstract Background Parkinson s disease is a chronic neurodegenerative disease characterized by gait abnormalities. Freezing of gait FOG an episodic inability to generate effective stepping is reported as one of the most disabling and distressing parkinsonian symptoms. While there are no specific therapies to treat FOG some external physical cues may alleviate these types of motor disruptions. The purpose of this study was to examine the potential effect of continuous physical cueing using robot-assisted sensorimotor gait training on reducing FOG episodes and improving gait. Methods Four individuals with Parkinson s disease and FOG symptoms received ten 30-minute sessions of robot-assisted gait training Lokomat to facilitate repetitive rhythmic and alternating bilateral lower extremity movements. Outcomes included the FOG-Questionnaire a clinician-rated video FOG score spatiotemporal measures of gait and the Parkinson s Disease Questionnaire-39 quality of life measure. Results All participants showed a reduction in FOG both by self-report and clinician-rated scoring upon completion of training. Improvements were also observed in gait velocity stride length rhythmicity and coordination. Conclusions This pilot study suggests that robot-assisted gait training may be a feasible and effective method of reducing FOG and improving gait. Videotaped scoring of FOG has the potential advantage of providing additional data to complement FOG self-report. Background Freezing of gait FOG is a common yet poorly understood gait phenomenon in persons with Parkinson s .