Impact of a physical therapy program on the functional performance of a child with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease type 2: a case report

Abstract

This case study aimed at verifying the influence of a physical therapy program on the functional performance of a child with diagnosis of Charcot-Marie-Tooth) disease type 2. The 6 year-old male child presented low and upper limbs affected at both motor and sensitive levels. Before and after the program, the subject was assessed by means of the Pediatric Evaluation Disability Inventory (PEDI), designed for children between 6 months through 7.5 years old. PEDI is divided into three parts – functional skills (involving selfcare, mobility and social function), caregiver assistance, and environment modification – and only the first part was used in this study. Drawing on the difficulties detected at the first evaluation, a physical therapy program was designed, based on the neurodevelopmental concept. The program lasted two months, with two 50-minute sessions per week (a total of 15 sessions). At the post-program evaluation, self-care score raised from 20.8 to 26.7, and mobility scare, from 40 to 54,9, specially in transference and going up and downstairs skills. Thus, the therapy program was effective in improving the subject's functional performance.