Is gaitrite system sensitive in discriminating gait pattern of subjects affected by Charcot Marie tooth? A pilot study

Background: Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) disease is the most common hereditary neuropathy, characterized by progressive distal muscle weakness and gait abnormalities, impacting patients mobility and quality of life. Despite efforts to develop effective treatments, pharmacological options remain limited. Evaluation of gait function is crucial for assessing disease progression and treatment efficacy. Aim: This study compared the sensitivity of clinical and instrumental outcome measures (OM) in discriminating CMT patients and identifying key spatio-temporal gait parameters and their correlations with clinical measures. Methods: Eighteen CMT patients and 18 healthy age-matched subjects (HS) were evaluated using clinical scales and instrumental gait analysis. Clinical measures included the 10 m walk test (10MWT), 6-minutes walk test (6MWT), Berg balance scale (BBS), Short Physical Performance Battery (SPPB), CMT Examination Score (CMTES), and Walk12 scale. Instrumental evaluation utilized the GAITRite electronic walkway system to assess spatio-temporal parameters. Correlations between clinical and instrumental parameters were examined. Results: CMT patients exhibited significantly lower performance in clinical scales compared to HS. Instrumental evaluation revealed significant differences in stride length, velocity, stance percentage, and swing percentage between CMT patients and HS. Correlation analysis demonstrated associations between clinical and instrumental measures, particularly with stride length, gait speed, and balance assessments. Conclusion: The GAITRite system demonstrated sensitivity in discriminating CMT patients and controls, highlighting gait abnormalities consistent with previous literature findings. Correlations between instrumental and clinical measures suggest potential for objective gait assessment in CMT management. Further research with larger cohorts is warranted to validate these findings and assess longitudinal gait changes in CMT.