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Treadmill training in patients affected by Charcot–Marie–Tooth neuropathy: results of a multicenter, prospective, randomized, single‐blind, controlled study
Author(s) -
Mori L.,
Signori A.,
Prada V.,
Pareyson D.,
Piscosquito G.,
Padua L.,
Pazzaglia C.,
Fabrizi G. M.,
Picelli A.,
Sche A.
Publication year - 2020
Publication title -
european journal of neurology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 124
eISSN - 1468-1331
pISSN - 1351-5101
DOI - 10.1111/ene.14074
Subject(s) - medicine , proprioception , randomized controlled trial , weakness , physical therapy , treadmill , balance (ability) , physical medicine and rehabilitation , multicenter trial , multicenter study , surgery
Background and purpose Muscle‐strengthening, stretching or proprioceptive treatments may slow symptom progression in Charcot—Marie–Tooth ( CMT ) neuropathy. The aim of the study was to evaluate safety and efficacy of treadmill training in CMT 1A. Methods We planned a multicenter, prospective, randomized, single‐blind, controlled study. We recruited 53 outpatients affected by CMT 1A and randomized them into two treatment groups: one underwent stretching and proprioceptive exercise, whereas the other was additionally treated with treadmill training (Tre SPE ). Primary outcome measures ( OMs ) were the walking evaluations and secondary OM was the balance assessment. All participants were assessed at baseline and after 3 and 6 months of treatment. Results Most patients showed an improvement in at least one OM after 3 months [42/47 (89.4%)] and 6 months [38/40 (95%)] of treatment. No adverse events were reported in either group. Conclusions The most important finding was that both stretching and proprioceptive exercise and treadmill training had an objective benefit on patients affected by CMT disease, without causing overwork weakness. We had a low rate of drop out and did not find deterioration in motor performance. Our results also confirm that applying evidence‐based medicine methods to rehabilitative research is the correct way to test the efficacy of a treatment.