Balance Confidence and Falls in Individuals With Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease: A Cross-Sectional Observational Study

Area of Science:

• Neurology
• Orthopedics
• Rehabilitation Science

Background:

• Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) frequently causes impaired balance and functional deficits.
• Ankle foot orthoses (AFOs) are commonly used by CMT patients to enhance balance and mobility.
• Understanding the real-world impact of AFOs on falls and balance confidence is crucial for patient management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate fall frequency in individuals with CMT using AFOs.
• To assess the perceived effectiveness of AFOs on balance in the CMT population.
• To measure balance confidence across various activities in CMT patients using AFOs.

Main Methods:

• A survey was distributed to 306 individuals with CMT who use AFOs.
• Data collected included fall frequency, perceived AFO effectiveness, and balance confidence using the Activities Specific Balance Confidence Scale.
• Participants were recruited via a Patient Contact Registry and responded via email.

Main Results:

• 14% of participants reported falls in the past 24 hours and 38% in the past week.
• 78% of participants perceived that their AFOs improved their balance.
• Balance confidence varied significantly, with high confidence on level surfaces and low confidence on uneven or challenging terrains.

Conclusions:

• AFOs offer perceived balance benefits for individuals with CMT, yet falls remain common.
• The Activities Specific Balance Confidence Scale can identify CMT patients at higher risk of falls.
• Findings can inform targeted patient education, treatment plans, and future AFO design research.