Common signs and symptoms of CMT
Symptoms commonly appear in adolescence or early adulthood but can be earlier or later. Living with CMT is a daily challenge which can, at times, lead to individuals developing signs of anxiety and depression.
Abnormal gait and balance
Abnormal gait or a walking abnormality is when a person is unable to walk in the usual way. This may be due to injuries, underlying conditions, or problems with the legs and feet.
Foot deformities
e.g. high arched foot (pes cavus), flat feet, hammer toes
Foot drop during walking
Foot drop, sometimes called drop foot, is a general term for difficulty lifting the front part of the foot. If you have foot drop, the front of your foot might drag on the ground when you walk. People with foot drop can overcompensate overusing their thigh muscles when walking. This leads to additional problems with their upper legs. Foot drop can be managed with the use of orthotics.
Weakness in extremities
Weakness is a lack of physical or muscle strength and the feeling that extra effort is required to move your arms, legs, or other muscles. Exercise is one of the key ways to keep extremities strong. Programmed exercise developed by physiotherapists is really important in maintain strength ‘if you don’t use it, you’ll lose it’.
Decreased sensation in feet, legs, hands and arms
Loss of sensation is linked to peripheral neuropathy. This is a type of nerve damage.
Decreased grip strength
When the nerve has an abnormal amount of pressure on it, it can produce pain, numbness and even muscle weakness affecting your grip strength.
