The typical CMT foot has a high arch, claw toes and a narrow weight-bearing surface. Body weight therefore lands on a few small points: the ball of the foot, the heel, the top of the toes. Calluses, blisters and pressure wounds appear in exactly those places.
The second problem is reduced sensation. A stone in your shoe, a seam that rubs, water that is too hot — the warning others get, you do not.
The daily check
Look at your feet every day, including the soles and between the toes. If that is difficult, use a mirror or ask someone else. You are looking for red marks that do not fade, blisters, cracks, callus with a dark core, and changed nails.
- Wash with lukewarm water and test the temperature with your hand or elbow, not your foot.
- Dry carefully, including between the toes.
- Moisturise the skin, but not between the toes.
- Cut nails straight and not too short; leave it to a podiatrist if you cannot reach them well.
Callus and pressure points
Callus is not a cosmetic issue but a signal: there is too much pressure there. Do not cut it away yourself and do not use acid corn plasters — with reduced sensation the risk of creating a wound is too high. A podiatrist removes it safely and can tell you straight away where the pressure comes from.
Shoes
In CMT shoes are not a detail but a treatment. What to look for:
- Enough height and room in the toe box for claw toes, without the foot sliding forward.
- A firm heel counter and a sole that does not fold in the middle.
- As few internal seams as possible over pressure points.
- Laces or velcro, so you can secure the instep.
- Room for an insole or orthosis if you wear one.
Break new shoes in gradually: the first hour, then half a day. Check your feet after every step of that process. Feel inside the shoe with your hand before putting it on.
See a doctor quickly if
A wound that does not close within a few days, a red or warm foot, or fluid that keeps leaking from a blister: have it looked at. Wounds on a foot with little sensation heal more slowly and become infected more easily.