New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire [NFOG-Q]

Description

The New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (NFOG-Q) is a questionnaire designed to assess the phenomenon of freezing of gait. It is a revised version of the original Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOG-Q), which consisted of 6 items. The revised NFOG-Q contains 9 items and was developed to provide a more detailed assessment of freezing episodes and their impact on mobility.

Freezing of gait is a mobility-related phenomenon that can substantially affect everyday functioning, particularly in people with Parkinson’s disease.

Aim

The primary aim of the NFOG-Q is to systematically assess the presence of freezing of gait and its impact on everyday mobility.

The questionnaire helps determine whether a patient experiences freezing episodes and provides information about the extent to which these episodes are associated with difficulties in walking and daily activities.

Structure

The NFOG-Q consists of 9 items related to freezing of gait. The questionnaire follows a sequential structure: the full set of questions is completed only if the first question is answered positively.

In this way, the first item serves as an initial screening question for the presence of freezing before the respondent proceeds to the more detailed parts of the instrument.

Use of Visual Support

According to the source material, when a patient is not certain about the meaning of freezing, a video demonstrating the phenomenon can be used to support understanding.

This visual support may help patients identify whether they have experienced similar episodes and can improve the accuracy of self-reported responses.

Target Population

The NFOG-Q is primarily intended for adults and older adults.

The source file specifically associates the instrument with Parkinson’s disease and with neurological conditions affecting the nervous system and mobility.

Type of Instrument

The NFOG-Q is a questionnaire used to assess aspects of activities and mobility/movement.

Its use can therefore contribute to the assessment of functional limitations related to freezing of gait in everyday life.

Clinical and Research Applications

The NFOG-Q can be used in the clinical assessment of people with Parkinson’s disease, in physiotherapy, neurological rehabilitation, and research examining gait and mobility problems.

It may also be used to monitor changes in freezing over time and to evaluate changes following therapeutic or rehabilitation interventions.

Conclusions

The New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (NFOG-Q) is a brief and specialized instrument for assessing freezing of gait. Its 9-item revised structure, together with the option of using visual material to clarify the concept of freezing, makes it particularly useful in the assessment of mobility difficulties in people with Parkinson’s disease.

Its application can support both clinical monitoring and research into gait disturbances and their impact on daily functioning.

References

Giladi, N., Shabtai, H., Simon, E. S., Biran, S., Tal, J., & Korczyn, A. D. (1999). Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (FOG-Q).

Nieuwboer, A. (2009). New Freezing of Gait Questionnaire (NFOG-Q).

Dutch version: KNGF Guideline for Parkinson’s Disease (2016).