Clinical Research Directory

Walking Function Outcomes Following Surgical Correction With Rehabilitation Versus Physical Therapy Alone in Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease: A Bidirectional Cohort Study

The goal of this study is to compare changes in walking ability in people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) who receive two different treatment approaches for foot deformities that affect walking. CMT is an inherited nerve condition that can cause muscle weakness, loss of sensation, and foot deformities. These changes often make walking difficult and can reduce independence and quality of life. Treatment options commonly include physical therapy alone or surgery to correct foot alignment followed by rehabilitation. However, it is not clear whether one approach leads to better long-term walking outcomes. The main question this study aims to answer is whether individuals who undergo functional foot surgery followed by rehabilitation experience different changes in walking ability over time compared with those who receive structured physical therapy alone. Researchers will compare walking performance between these two treatment groups over a period of up to two years. Walking ability will be evaluated using standardized walking tests and patient questionnaires. Participants included in this study are individuals with CMT-related foot deformities that affect walking and who received either surgery followed by rehabilitation or physical therapy alone. Researchers will analyze changes in walking ability over time and determine how many participants achieve meaningful improvement. The findings from this study may help clinicians and individuals with CMT better understand how different treatment strategies influence walking function over time.