How to perform foot exercises for Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT)

If you suffer from a form of CMT that helps your flexibility if you do exercises than I have some foot exercise that might help you. My husband has suffered from CMT for the majority of his life (47 years) and he has learned to manage his stiffness and pain with these exercises that I am showing you here.

I would like to state that, please see your doctor before you start any stretching exercises so you do not harm yourself or cause any damage to your muscles. CMT is a serious illness and any new exercise should be discussed with your doctor.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

Things You'll Need:

• comfortable mat for you to do some stretching
• Your hands
• Small hand towel

1. 
   Position one

   Your goal in this exercise is to stretch the Plantar flexor muscles. You need to grasp towel with toes.

2. 
   Position two

   Your goal in this exercise is to stretch Anterior tibial muscles. Gently flex your foot into a pointed toe position to stretch the top of your foot area.

3. 
   Position three

   Your goal in this exercise is to stretch Peroneal muscles. You will be doing the lateral foot press.

Tips & Warnings

• With these stretching exercises the goal is to do them slowly and with gentle movement for best results. These stretches are great warm ups before walking or any other exercises according to my husband who has CMT.
• While attempting any of these stretches and you feel any unusual pain STOP and do not do anymore until you have seen a doctor!

[Happycrafter]

on 7/11/2008 Thanks for sharing your info!!! Sometimes a bit of encouragement is what we need.

[peterpan56]

on 5/27/2008 Thanks for the helpful article. Good advice to talk to your doctor or physical therapist about changes in exercise routine. Very good tips and warning section as well.
http://health-pictures.com/Charcot-Marie-Tooth-picture.htm

[smidgen]

on 3/29/2008 Thanks so much! He loves these stretches so much that he is able to walk a couple of miles every few days! There is not very much known about CMT so we are trying to spread the word about the illness! Please PASS IT ON!

[grouch]

on 3/29/2008 Great twists and turns to keep us all limber. Thanks for shareing your story and well wishes to your husband.