Falls and freezing of gait in Parkinson's disease: A review of two interconnected, episodic phenomena

Falls and freezing of gait are two "episodic" phenomena that are common in Parkinson's disease. Both symptoms are often incapacitating for affected patients, as the associated physical and psychosocial consequences have a great impact on the patients' quality of life, and survival is diminished. Furthermore, the resultant loss of independence and the treatment costs of injuries add substantially to the health care expenditures associated with Parkinson's disease. In this clinically oriented review, we summarise recent insights into falls and freezing of gait and highlight their similarities, differences, and links. Topics covered include the clinical presentation, recent ideas about the underlying…