Understanding Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome
Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome: Diagnosis & Best Treatment
Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome (Disease): This guide will give you the 100% best diagnosis, causes, and treatment options for CMT disease and disorder.
Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome: Causes, Symptoms, and Best Treatment Approaches
CMT is a group of inherited disorders that affect the peripheral nerves, which are responsible for sending signals from your spinal cord to the rest of the body. The syndrome is typically caused by gene mutations that impact the protective coating (myelin sheath) of nerves, leading to muscle atrophy, foot abnormalities, and impaired coordination. While there’s no cure for Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome, custom orthotics, physical therapy, braces, and podiatric support can dramatically slow progression and support functional independence.
What Is Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome? Know the Early Signs & How to Manage It
Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome (CMT) is a hereditary neurological disorder that impacts the peripheral nerves responsible for movement and sensation. One of the earliest signs often begins in the feet and lower legs, leading to muscle weakness, difficulty walking, and frequent foot deformities. Although it’s a progressive condition, early diagnosis and supportive care from an experienced podiatrist can significantly improve mobility and quality of life. If you or a loved one are noticing frequent balance issues, foot drop, or high arches, it may be time to explore a clinical evaluation for CMT
Take the First Step Toward Foot Health With Expert CMT Care
If you or someone you love is showing signs of Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome, don’t wait. Early intervention can greatly improve comfort and mobility. At Balance Foot & Ankle Specialist, we offer comprehensive foot exams, gait analysis, custom orthotics, and neurological foot care solutions. Our Michigan-based team understands the complexities of CMT and is ready to help you manage symptoms and live fully.
Charcot Marie Tooth Disease Overview
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is a hereditary motor and sensory neuropathy. It is characterized by a progressive loss of muscle tissue and specific muscles and Sensation.
- From our standpoint, we will be looking at it from the foot. Currently, this is an incurable disease, is a genetic neurologic disease.
- It affects one in about 2500 people.
Signs and Symptoms
- Symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth usually begin in childhood or adulthood. However, some people can experience it later.
- The first symptoms usually appear foot drop, and it can cause hammer toes where the toes curl and wasting muscle in certain parts of the leg.
- This muscle wasting is called the “stork leg” or “inverted champagne bottle.”
- It can also cause weakness in the hands and forearms.

Charcot Marie Tooth Neuropathy
- This also leads to loss of sensation foot, the ankles in the legs, and this can also happen in the upper extremity.
- This can lead to ulcer formation and a very high arched foot. A very high arched foot is classically associated with this disease.

This is where surgery can be especially effective. Reducing the high arch and combining it with good shoes and orthotics can relieve a significant amount of pressure.
Charcot Marie Tooth Disease and Breathing Problems
- Other symptoms include scoliosis, breathing changes, gastrointestinal sternal changes, hip socket problems, hunching, and loss of height. It can also lead to tremors and changes in vocal cords.
- This can also lead to complex regional pain syndrome, among other diseases.
Charcot Marie Tooth Muscular Atrophy
- CMT used to be classified as a subtype of muscular dystrophy.
- It does decrease the conduction to muscles, which leads to decreased function.
- Some muscles waste faster than others, especially in the feet and legs.
Causes of CMT Disease
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome is caused by mutations that cause defects in nerve proteins.
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome changes occur in the myelin sheath, and this is the coding of nerve tissue. There are multiple different types, including CMT1, CMT3, and CMT4.
- There are also ones that damage the action nerve; this is called CMT2.
Chromosome 17
The most common cause of Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome, up to 80% of cases, is in chromosome number 17.
Types of Charcot Marie Tooth (AKA):
- Cmt1a
- Charcot Marie tooth type 1d
- Charcot Marie tooth disease type 1a
- Charcot Marie tooth disease type 2
- Pxt3003
- CMT disorder
- Cmt2a
CMT Diagnosis
- Charcot-Marie-Tooth is best diagnosed through symptoms. It can also be diagnosed by measurement of the nerve conduction studies.
- This is the speed of how fast the nerves conduct signals.
- DNA testing and nerve biopsies can also be performed.
The Best Way to Diagnose Charcot-Marie-Tooth:
- You should see a neurologist for this diagnosis or physical medicine and rehabilitation doctor.
- They will identify the neuropathy in the sensory loss by checking your deep tendon reflexes, such as the knee-jerking.
- The neurologist or physical medicine. Dr. also asked about family history, diabetes, or other causes of neuropathy to roll these out.
- At this time, they can order nerve conduction studies and or take a biopsy.
Prognosis of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Syndrome
- Prognosis and symptoms can vary widely depending on the patient.
- This is a genetic disease, so management is the key rather than a cure.
- 2007 review article stated that life expectancy is not expected to be changed or altered in most cases. “
CMT Treatment
- We always hope for a new treatment or a cure, but management can be very successful!
- This can even relieve the neuropathy symptoms and pain significantly.
Treatment Goals of Charcot-Marie-Tooth:
- The key is to maintain movement, flexibility, and muscle strength.
- We work with physical therapists, occupational therapists, orthoptists, and other podiatrists.
- You should also see a neurologist for evaluation and initial diagnosis.
What Can a Podiatrist Do?
- The biggest symptom in advanced disease is foot and ankle instability and foot drop.
- We find that a lace-up ankle brace is a great start for most patients, but this is a big headache and many patients.
- It may be possible to get a hard rigid brace for foot drop, but we have success with dynamic braces; they have worked well for patients to maintain their foot from dropping and strength.
Get regular foot care:
- This is where a medical pedicure and nail trimming can come in handy.
- This is important in a Charcot-Marie-Tooth syndrome patient because there is minimal feeling in the toes, the toes can get ingrown, and there could be wound formation.
- This is probably the major reason we see Charcot-Marie-Tooth patients.
Great shoes and orthotics:
- Early on in the disease, we love great shoes and great orthotics.
- The difference in orthotics can make on a high arched foot type is amazing, especially if you’re getting bruising and bone formation to the ball or metatarsal region of your foot.
Our favorite heavy-duty orthotics:
Get these if you can!








Best dress shoe orthotics:
Get these if you have dress shoes:






Best women’s shoe orthotics:
Only if you have tight shoes that won’t fit the other ones!


Get yourself a good ankle brace:
A good ankle brace will help stabilize your foot, and this will help with foot drop and limit the instability.
Ankle stability braces:
- Stability ankle braces provide more correction:






Ankle compression braces:
- Compression ankle braces can help decrease pain and decrease swelling:




Charcot-Marie-Tooth Surgery:
- Foot surgery can be very effective: In short, Marie tooth disease, especially the advanced disease.

This is where surgery can be especially effective. Reducing the high arch and combining it with good shoes and orthotics can relieve a significant amount of pressure.
Goals of Foot & Ankle Surgery:
- You prefer to stick towards surgery that relieves wound risk formation.
- The most common types of wound risk are a ball of foot ulcers and big toe joint ulcers.
- What this lets us do is soft tissue procedures and sometimes bone procedures to make the foot. Flatten out, rather than being such a high arch.
Charcot-Marie-Tooth Surgery Recovery Time:
- Sometimes a very quick healing surgery (immediate weight-bearing) can improve the quality of life and have you back in a regular shoe walking better than before the surgery within about a month.
- These can be thought of as high arched foot or cave’s foot type correcting surgeries.
Associated Foot Problems:
Consider Plantar Fasciitis:
- Plantar fasciitis can be a very common symptom in a cavus foot type.
- This guide will show you how to handle the plantar fasciitis component of your CMT!
Serving patients in: Bloomfield Hills, Howell, Lansing, and surrounding Michigan counties.
Top-Rated Foot Care Products Recommended by Podiatrists
Trusted Solutions To Soothe, Protect, and Support Your Feet
Finding the best products for managing peripheral neuropathy and diabetic foot pain can make a world of difference in your daily comfort and mobility.
When it comes to managing foot pain from conditions like plantar fasciitis, flat feet, or diabetic neuropathy, the best orthotics can offer crucial support and relief.
Choosing the best shoes for foot conditions like neuropathy, plantar fasciitis, or flat feet is essential for pain relief and long-term foot health.
Your Long-Term Partner in Managing Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome
Schedule Your Appointment Today
Living with Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome doesn’t mean giving up your mobility or comfort. At Balance Foot & Ankle Specialist, our experienced podiatrists provide individualized care plans that evolve with your needs—whether it’s bracing, balance therapy, or custom footwear solutions. We’re here to support you through every step of your journey with proven treatments and compassionate guidance.
Frequently Asked Questions About Charcot Marie Tooth Syndrome
A genetic neurological disorder that affects the peripheral nerves, especially in the feet and lower legs.
There’s no cure, but symptoms can be managed effectively with therapy and assistive devices.
Foot drop, high arches, frequent tripping, and leg muscle weakness are common early signs.
Through a combination of clinical exams, nerve conduction studies, genetic testing, and family history.
Yes, over time, the condition may progress to the hands and arms, leading to grip difficulties.
Custom orthotics, braces, physical therapy, and foot/ankle surgical intervention if needed.
Many patients can, especially with early care and supportive devices like AFOs (ankle-foot orthotics).
No, though both affect muscle strength, CMT is a nerve disorder, not a muscular one.
Symptoms can appear in adolescence or early adulthood, though some forms present later.
Yes, a podiatrist plays a crucial role in diagnosing foot abnormalities and maintaining mobility.