Tools to better understand the deterioration of walking in hereditary or acquired neuropathies

Researchers in Lille studied gait parameters in patients with Charcot-Tooth disease type 1A (33) and chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyneuropathy (CIDP) (31) under specific conditions:

  • their walking was filmed in a natural state and during concurrent verbal stimulation (of low or high intensity),
  • video analysis revealed differences between the two groups, with CIDP patients being more cautious (automatically slowing their walking and being distracted by a verbal task) than their counterparts with CMT1A,
  • whereas patients with CMT1A developed compensatory techniques over time.

This research identified two gait parameters useful for the diagnosis and monitoring of these conditions: heel clearance and stride time.

 

Gait Parameters Alterations Under Dual-Task Conditions in Patients With Acquired and Hereditary Peripheral Neuropathies. Dupont L, Thomas R, Danjoux L et al. Eur J Neurol. 2026 Mar;33(3):e70518. doi: 10.1111/ene.70518.