Walking speed is correlated with the isokinetic muscular strength of the knee in patients with Charcot-Marie-Tooth type 1A

• Published in: Annals of physical and rehabilitation medicine Vol. 61; p. e254
• Main Authors: Reynaud, V., Morel, C., Givron, P., Clavelou, P., Cornut-Chauvinc, C., Pereira, B., Taithe, F., Coudeyre, E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Elsevier Masson SAS 01.07.2018
• Subjects: Charcot-Marie-Tooth; Muscle strength deficits; Walking parameters; Walking parameters; Muscle strength deficits; Charcot-Marie-Tooth
• ISSN: 1877-0657; 1877-0665
• DOI: 10.1016/j.rehab.2018.05.590

Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 1A (CMT1A) is the most common hereditary neuropathy. Affected individuals have a distal motor deficit, initially affecting the lower limbs and impairing walking performance. Many studies have investigated this distal defect and the podo-orthotic compensations that may result. The use of an isokinetic dynamometer is relevant for objectively assessing the muscle strength of patients with neuromuscular disorders. No studies evaluated the incidence of muscle strength deficits of knee extensors and flexors on walking parameters for CMT1A patients. The purpose of this study is to find correlations between the isokinetic muscular strength (IMS) of the knee flexors (KF) and extensors (KE) and CMT1A patient walk parameters. IMS of the knee was evaluated at 3 angular velocities (120, 60°/s in concentric and 30°/s in eccentric) on an isokinetic dynamometer (Cybex®). The walk was evaluated by a gait analysis (GaitRite®). Thirty-three subjects were included (23 female, mean age 46.7±13.3years, mean body mass index 25.7±4.6kg/m2). Mean scores for physical and mental health on the Medical Outcomes Study Short-Form 36 were 36.7±9.0 and 47.9±11.7. We found a correlation between the walking speed and the IMS of the KE for the entire population and between the walking speed and the IMS of the KE and KF for subjects under 50 years of age. This study shows for the first time the correlation between the IMS of the knee and the walking speed. This highlights the value of the use of motion analysis devices for CMT1A patients.