Hand Rehabilitation Treatment for Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease: An Open Label Pilot Study.

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Physical Therapy

Background:

• Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) neuropathy primarily affects lower limbs, but hand deformities significantly impact patient quality of life.
• Limited research exists on upper limb evaluation and rehabilitation strategies for CMT patients.
• There is a need for studies investigating effective rehabilitation exercises to enhance hand dexterity and improve quality of life in individuals with CMT.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the effectiveness of a 4-week hand rehabilitation protocol for patients diagnosed with Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) neuropathy.
• To assess improvements in hand function, dexterity, and quality of life following a structured rehabilitation program.
• To determine the tolerability and reproducibility of the proposed rehabilitation exercises.

Main Methods:

• Recruited 9 patients with clinical and genetic diagnosis of CMT.
• Implemented a 4-week rehabilitation protocol involving muscle recruitment, stretching, and proprioceptive exercises (two sessions per week).
• Assessed patients pre- and post-treatment using the Thumb Opposition Test, Sollerman Hand Function Scale, and dynamometry (tripod pinch and hand grip).

Main Results:

• The rehabilitation protocol was well-tolerated, with no dropouts observed.
• No worsening of hand function was noted across all assessment scales.
• Significant improvements were observed in tested parameters, particularly in the dominant hand.

Conclusions:

• The 3-phase rehabilitation treatment is safe, well-tolerated, and not detrimental to hand status in CMT patients.
• The protocol is reproducible by healthcare professionals.
• This study provides a foundation for future randomized, single-blind research projects in CMT hand rehabilitation.