Physical function and performance measures of children and adolescents with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

ABSTRACT

This study aimed to verify whether there are differences in foot type, physical function, and performance between children and adolescents with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) and their healthy counterparts, and whether an interval of 6 months, from the initial assessment, reveals any significant changes on physical performance and other specific physical measures of the lower limbs.

Subjects and Methods: Participants between 6 and 17 years of age, with CMT (CMT group n = 40), were compared to healthy participants (Control group, n = 49). Twenty participants with CMT completed the follow-up. We collected anthropometric, goniometric (ankle and knee), and dynamometric (inversion, eversion, plantar flexors, dorsiflexors, knee, hip extensors) measures, agonist/antagonist ratios, feet alignment (Foot Posture Index – FPI), muscle power (Long Jump), Pediatric Balance Scale (PBS), and 10-meter walk test (10MWT).

Results: Compared to Control, CMT showed reduced passive range of motion (ROM), weakness in all evaluated muscles, increased agonist/antagonist ratios, predominance of varus and lower performance (PBS and Long Jump). After 6 months, CMT measures did not change.

Conclusion: The cross-sectional analysis showed reduced ROM, strength, power, and distal muscle imbalance, as well as secondary limitations (PBS and 10MWT) in children and adolescents with CMT. These biomechanical and functional alterations did not change at the 6-month follow-up.

KEYWORDS:

• Neuropathy
• children
• adolescent
• rehabilitation
• Foot Posture Index
• muscle strength

Acknowledgments

To the physical therapists of the Centro de Reabilitação do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo for the collaboration in the evaluation of the patients and the organization of the outpatient routine.

Disclosure Statement

The authors declare that there are no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Fundação de Apoio ao Ensino, Pesquisa e Assistência do Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto da Universidade de São Paulo (FAEPA).