Music to move persons with Parkinson’s disease: a personalized approach

Abstract

Gait impairments, and freezing of gait (FOG) in particular, are common and disabling for many people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) [1]. During FOG episodes, patients feel as if their feet are suddenly being ‘glued to the floor’ [2]. Treatment can be challenging but remains critically important as a good mobility is vital for independence and quality of life. Optimal management involves both pharmacological and non-pharmacological interventions. Non-pharmacological interventions include the use of compensation strategies, which should be tailored to each individual’s preferences and abilities [3, 4]. Clinical experience suggests that what works for one patient may not work for the next, but there is still relatively little documentation of this individualized response to non-pharmacological interventions. Here, we illustrate the importance of personalizing non-pharmacological interventions, and also demonstrate the value of objectively evaluating the effects of dopaminergic medication.