{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,13]],"date-time":"2025-11-13T09:34:09Z","timestamp":1763026449251,"version":"3.45.0"},"reference-count":38,"publisher":"MDPI AG","issue":"11","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,12]],"date-time":"2025-11-12T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1762905600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":[],"crossmark-restriction":false},"short-container-title":["Life"],"abstract":"<jats:p>Background: Charcot\u2013Marie\u2013Tooth disease (CMTd) is the most prevalent inherited peripheral neuropathy, often associated with foot deformities and gait and balance impairments. While the structural characteristics of the foot have been extensively investigated, limited data are available regarding the features of the plantar fascia in individuals with CMTd. Aim: To investigate the ultrasound (US) structural characteristics of the plantar fascia in subjects with CMTd and to explore their relations with disease severity and functional outcomes, encompassing lower extremity function, gait, and balance. Methods: A total of 26 individuals with confirmed CMTd underwent clinical and functional assessments. Bilateral ultrasound examination of the plantar fascia was performed to assess thickness, echogenicity, fibrillar pattern, and inflammatory signs (as assessed by US Power Doppler). Correlations between ultrasound findings, clinical data, and functional measures were also evaluated. Results: No pathological increase in plantar fascia thickness was observed, although a significant side-to-side difference was noted (p = 0.031) on ultrasound (US) imaging. No inflammatory signs were also detected. Significant associations were found between fascial alterations and age (p = 0.024), disease severity (CMTES, p = 0.014), and functional performance (10 MWT p = 0.017; SPPB p = 0.039). Conclusions: In individuals with CMT, plantar fascia abnormalities likely reflect chronic structural degeneration rather than acute inflammation. These changes are more evident with an increase in age, disease progression, and functional decline, suggesting the role of US imaging as a valuable tool for clinical and therapeutic strategies.<\/jats:p>","DOI":"10.3390\/life15111741","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,13]],"date-time":"2025-11-13T09:10:45Z","timestamp":1763025045000},"page":"1741","update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/mdpi_crossmark_policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":0,"title":["Ultrasound Evaluation of Plantar Fascia in Individuals with Charcot\u2013Marie\u2013Tooth Disease: An Exploratory Study"],"prefix":"10.3390","volume":"15","author":[{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0000-7435-3827","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Noemi","family":"Vallario","sequence":"first","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Geriatrics and Orthopaedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-3030-5480","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Antonella","family":"Vitale","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Geriatrics and Orthopaedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-8705-7836","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Alessandra","family":"Zeni","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Geriatrics and Orthopaedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Eleonora","family":"Di Ciesco","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Geriatrics and Orthopaedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Eloisa","family":"Martire","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Geriatrics and Orthopaedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0009-0006-9069-5089","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Rossella","family":"Calciano","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Geriatrics and Orthopaedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Letizia","family":"Tarallo","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"Department of Geriatrics and Orthopaedics, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, 00168 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Gianpaolo","family":"Ronconi","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UOSD Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation, Department of Aging, Orthopedic, and Rheumatological Sciences, University Hospital Foundation \u201cAgostino Gemelli\u201d IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Costanza","family":"Pazzaglia","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UOSD High-Intensity Neurorehabilitation, Department of Neuroscience, Sensory Organs and Thorax, University Hospital Foundation \u201cAgostino Gemelli\u201d IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"given":"Ilaria","family":"Paolasso","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UOSD High-Intensity Neurorehabilitation, Department of Neuroscience, Sensory Organs and Thorax, University Hospital Foundation \u201cAgostino Gemelli\u201d IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]},{"ORCID":"https:\/\/orcid.org\/0000-0002-8528-7834","authenticated-orcid":false,"given":"Augusto","family":"Fusco","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[{"name":"UOSD High-Intensity Neurorehabilitation, Department of Neuroscience, Sensory Organs and Thorax, University Hospital Foundation \u201cAgostino Gemelli\u201d IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy"},{"name":"UOS High-Speciality Neurorehabilitation, Department of Neuroscience, Sensory Organs and Thorax, University Hospital Foundation \u201cAgostino Gemelli\u201d IRCCS, 00168 Rome, Italy"}],"role":[{"role":"author","vocabulary":"crossref"}]}],"member":"1968","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,11,12]]},"reference":[{"key":"ref_1","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"157","DOI":"10.1159\/000443706","article-title":"Epidemiologic Study of Charcot-Marie-Tooth Disease: A Systematic Review","volume":"46","author":"Barreto","year":"2016","journal-title":"Neuroepidemiology"},{"key":"ref_2","doi-asserted-by":"crossref","first-page":"2461","DOI":"10.1111\/ene.15860","article-title":"Clinical spectrum and frequency of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease in Italy: Data from the National CMT Registry","volume":"30","author":"Pisciotta","year":"2023","journal-title":"Eur. 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