A study of physical activity comparing people with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease to normal control subjects

AbstractPurpose: Charcot Marie Tooth disease (CMT) describes a group of hereditary neuropathies that present with distal weakness, wasting and sensory loss. Small studies indicate that people with CMT have reduced daily activity levels. This raises concerns as physical inactivity increases the risk of a range of co- morbidities, an important consideration in the long-term management of this disease. This study aimed to compare physical activity, patterns of sedentary behavior and overall energy expenditure of people with CMT and healthy matched controls.Methods: We compared 20 people with CMT and 20 matched controls in a comparison of physical activity measurement over seven days, using an activity monitor. Patterns of sedentary behavior were explored through a power law analysis.Results: Results showed a decrease in daily steps taken in the CMT group, but somewhat paradoxically, they demonstrate shorter bouts of sedentary activity and more frequent transitions from sedentary to active behaviors. No diffe...