The Effect of Visual and Auditory Cueing Walker on Gait in İndividuals with Parkinson's Disease Experiencing Freezing of Gait

Objective The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of a visual and auditory cueing walker on freezing of gait during walking in patients with Parkinson's disease (PDF), compared to Parkinson patients without freezing of gait (PDNF). Design : Eighteen PDF and 12 PDNF were included in the study. Participants walked back and forth on a 7-meter walking path under two different conditions: without cues and with a walker providing visual and auditory cues. To assess the risk of falls in both groups, the "Tinetti Balance and Gait Assessment" was conducted. Additionally, the "Dynamic Gait Index" was used to evaluate the ability to adapt walking to varying task demands, and the Timed Up and Go Test (TUGT) was employed to determine walking speed. Results In the PDF group, visual and auditory cueing walker significantly decreased walking speed, but improved fall risk and walking adaptation. However, for the PDNF group, fall risk was unaffected, walking speed decreased, yet walking adaptation improved. When compared between the two groups, the visual and auditory cueing walker had a more positive effect on the PDF group. Conclusions This study suggests that a walker providing visual and auditory cues may improve daily walking in patients with Parkinson's disease with freezing of gait (PDF) and reduce the risk of falls in patients with Parkinson's disease without freezing of gait (PDNF) who exhibit hypokinetic gait patterns.