Freezing is one of the most common and debilitating symptoms of Parkinson’s disease (PD). When individuals with PD freeze, they suddenly lose the ability to move their feet, often mid-stride, resulting in a series of staccato stutter steps that get shorter until the person stops altogether. These episodes are one of the biggest contributors to falls among people living with the disorder.

Today, freezing is treated with a range of pharmacological, surgical or behavioral therapies, none of which have been shown to be particularly effective. But researchers at Harvard and Boston University have demonstrated the potential of soft robotics to treat this frustrating symptom, enabling people with PD to regain their mobility and independence.

The team has developed and tested a robotic garment, worn around the hips and thighs, that gives a gentle push to the hips as the leg swings, helping the individual with PD achieve a longer stride. In a pilot study with a single patient, the device completely eliminated the participant’s freezing while walking indoors, allowing him to walk faster and further than he could without the garment’s help.

The team spent six months working with the 73-year-old man, who — despite using both surgical and pharmacologic treatments — endured substantial and incapacitating freezing episodes more than 10 times a day, causing him to fall frequently. These episodes prevented him from walking around his community and forced him to rely on a scooter to get around outside.

Once he started using the device, "the effect was instantaneous," according to the researchers. Without any special training, the patient was able to walk without any freezing indoors and with only occasional episodes outdoors. He was also able to walk and talk without freezing, a rarity without the device.

During the study visits, the participant told researchers: “The suit helps me take longer steps and when it is not active, I notice I drag my feet much more. It has really helped me, and I feel it is a positive step forward.”

To learn more about the study, published in Nature Medicine, read the abstract by clicking here