Overwork weakness in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease.
OBJECTIVE
To determine the incidence of overwork weakness in Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT).


METHODS
Prospective survey.


METHODS
Rehabilitation department for CMT in an Italian tertiary care hospital.


METHODS
A total of 106 outpatients with CMT, selected for absence of other causes of weakness (age range, 11-69y), and 48 healthy volunteers (controls).


METHODS
The strength of 2 intrinsic hand muscles (abductor pollicis brevis [APB], first dorsal interosseous) in the dominant and nondominant hands was graded by using manual muscle testing and a modified Medical Research Council (MRC) Scale.


METHODS
The side of the stronger muscle and the difference in strength between the nondominant and dominant muscles.


RESULTS
Muscles were stronger on the nondominant side in 65.57% of patients versus 1.04% of controls, and on the dominant side in .94% of patients versus 84.38% controls. The difference in strength for first dorsal interosseous was .51 in patients and -.32 in controls (P>.01). The difference in strength for APB was .65 in patients and -.35 in controls (P>.01).


CONCLUSIONS
CMT muscles in the dominant hand are weaker than in the nondominant hand. This may be the result of overwork weakness.
Vinci
Paolo
P
Department of Rehabilitation of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease and Other Neuromuscular Disorders, Specialized Rehabilitation Hospital L. Spolverini, Ariccia, Rome, Italy. paolovinci@libero.it
Esposito
Carolina
C
Perelli
Sandra L
SL
Antenor
Jo Ann V
JA
Thomas
Florian P
FP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002607:Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000534:rehabilitation; D002648:Child; D018737:Hand Strength / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D018763:Muscle Fatigue; D018908:Muscle Weakness / Q000503:physiopathology*; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000503:physiopathology; D010291:Paresis / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation; D017933:Peripheral Nervous System / Q000503:physiopathology*; D011446:Prospective Studies