Cavus Foot: A Symptom of Charcot Marie Tooth Disease
kent B Smith asked:
Charcot Marie Tooth disease (CMT) is a hereditary disorder that affects the nervous system. It is also known as Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy (HMSN), Hereditary Sensorimotor Neuropathy (HSMAN) and Peroneal Muscular Atrophy. With 37 out of every 100,000 infants born with the disorder, Charcot Marie Tooth disease is one of the most common neurological disorders passed down by genetics. It is an autosomal dominant condition, and so if a human being has the disorder roughly fifty percent of his or her offspring will inherit it.
One of the most common symptoms of Charcot Marie Tooth disease is Cavus Foot, a condition characterized by high, rigid arches. The absence of crucial proteins in people affected by Charcot Marie Tooth disease negatively affects the muscles and nerves of the leg and foot. Certain muscles in the foot become very weak. The result is a combination of deformities where the foot drops but the arches remain high.
Cavus foot brings with it its own host of problems. An excessive amount of weight is placed on the ball and heel of the foot, which can lead to instability and soreness. Calluses often form where the foot is exposed to extra friction or pressure. Other foot deformities develop such as hammertoes and claw toes.
(Hammertoe is a condition where the second joint of the second, third or fourth toe remains permanently bent. It is usually caused by cramming toes into ill-fitting shoes. Claw toe is a foot deformity where the toes are permanently clenched like a fist. Both of these foot deformities can be attributed to high arches which increase pressure on the tips of the toes and force them into a bent position.)
Cavus foot can be treated non-surgically with orthotics (padding and protection designed for the foot) and proper footwear. Podiatrists often recommend high-topped shoes so that the ankle receives extra support. Braces may be necessary to help promote balance and to keep the foot and ankle in proper alignment. Callus pads can help reduce local pain, and calluses can be kept under control with the help of a physician who can safely remove hard and thick foot tissue (a process known as debridement). Surgery is necessary in situations where the symptoms are likely to get worse over time, or when pain and instability cannot be corrected with external, orthopedic devices. Fully correcting Cavus foot may require several surgeries with mixed results.
Charcot Marie Tooth disease (CMT) is a hereditary disorder that affects the nervous system. It is also known as Hereditary Motor and Sensory Neuropathy (HMSN), Hereditary Sensorimotor Neuropathy (HSMAN) and Peroneal Muscular Atrophy. With 37 out of every 100,000 infants born with the disorder, Charcot Marie Tooth disease is one of the most common neurological disorders passed down by genetics. It is an autosomal dominant condition, and so if a human being has the disorder roughly fifty percent of his or her offspring will inherit it.
One of the most common symptoms of Charcot Marie Tooth disease is Cavus Foot, a condition characterized by high, rigid arches. The absence of crucial proteins in people affected by Charcot Marie Tooth disease negatively affects the muscles and nerves of the leg and foot. Certain muscles in the foot become very weak. The result is a combination of deformities where the foot drops but the arches remain high.
Cavus foot brings with it its own host of problems. An excessive amount of weight is placed on the ball and heel of the foot, which can lead to instability and soreness. Calluses often form where the foot is exposed to extra friction or pressure. Other foot deformities develop such as hammertoes and claw toes.
(Hammertoe is a condition where the second joint of the second, third or fourth toe remains permanently bent. It is usually caused by cramming toes into ill-fitting shoes. Claw toe is a foot deformity where the toes are permanently clenched like a fist. Both of these foot deformities can be attributed to high arches which increase pressure on the tips of the toes and force them into a bent position.)
Cavus foot can be treated non-surgically with orthotics (padding and protection designed for the foot) and proper footwear. Podiatrists often recommend high-topped shoes so that the ankle receives extra support. Braces may be necessary to help promote balance and to keep the foot and ankle in proper alignment. Callus pads can help reduce local pain, and calluses can be kept under control with the help of a physician who can safely remove hard and thick foot tissue (a process known as debridement). Surgery is necessary in situations where the symptoms are likely to get worse over time, or when pain and instability cannot be corrected with external, orthopedic devices. Fully correcting Cavus foot may require several surgeries with mixed results.
on November 9th 2009 in Flashlights