LOSS OF ANKLE RANGE OF MOTION IN CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH CHARCOT-MARIE-TOOTH DISEASE AND THE ASSOCIATION TO FUNCTION

• Grant number: 25/00130-9
• Support Opportunities: Scholarships abroad - Research Internship - Scientific Initiation
• Start date: March 31, 2025
• End date: July 30, 2025
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy
• Principal Investigator: Ana Cláudia Mattiello-Sverzut
• Grantee: Clara Corsete Tonoli
• Supervisor: Gita Ramdharry
• Host Institution: Faculdade de Medicina de Ribeirão Preto (FMRP). Universidade de São Paulo (USP). Ribeirão Preto , SP, Brazil
• Institution abroad: University College London (UCL), England
• Associated to the scholarship: 24/07692-0 - USE OF ASSISTIVE TECHNOLOGY DEVICES AND PHYSICAL FUNCTION OF CHILDREN AND ADOLESCENTS WITH CHARCOT-MARIE-TOOTH DISEASE, BP.IC

Abstract

Among the main clinical impairments in the Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT) is the loss of ankle range of motion (ROM), which is a result of muscle weakness, imbalance between agonist and antagonist muscle groups, and structural deformities such as foot cavus. These factors can lead to progressive disability, increased risk of trips and falls, impaired balance, limited jumping ability and affected general locomotor function, interfering with participation in physical activities and daily tasks. Despite its clinical importance, the progression of ankle ROM loss and its association with functional outcomes in paediatric populations with CMT remain little explored in the literature. Thus, the mean aims of this project are to analyse the loss of ankle ROM in children and adolescents with CMT over time, and to investigate whether ankle ROM is associated with functional measures in children and adolescents with CMT. This will be a longitudinal retrospective study that will include children and adolescents with CMT aged between 3 and 21. The patients included underwent to clinical assessment of the ankle ROM, Foot Dorsiflexion Average and 3 items of the CMTPedS (Long Jump, Balance: The Bruininks-Oseretsky test and The 6-Minute Walk Test). Collaboration between research centers such as Brazil and United Kingdom can contribute to development acknowledgment about different instruments of ROM measures. Carrying out this work will bring gains to scholarship research in Brazil, will improve the clinical practice of the student and the research team and will also promote benefits to patients and the Brazilian health system.