National Board of Chiropractic Examiners (NBCE) Practice Test

Foot drop, slowly progressive distal muscle atrophy, and high pedal arches are characteristics of which condition?

1. Multiple sclerosis

2. Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

3. Parkinson's disease

4. Huntington's disease

The correct answer is: Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease

The condition characterized by foot drop, slowly progressive distal muscle atrophy, and high pedal arches is primarily associated with Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. This disorder is a hereditary neurological condition that affects the peripheral nerves, leading to muscle weakness and atrophy. Foot drop occurs due to weakness of the muscles that lift the foot, making it difficult to walk without dragging the foot. The progressive nature of the distal muscle atrophy is indicative of the degeneration of motor neurons or muscle fibers, which is a hallmark of Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease. Additionally, the presence of high pedal arches, or pes cavus, is commonly observed in this condition, resulting from imbalances in muscle strength affecting the foot's structure. In contrast, the other conditions mentioned, such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s disease, and Huntington’s disease, feature different sets of symptoms and pathophysiological processes, which do not typically present with the specific combination of symptoms noted in the question. Hence, Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease is the most fitting answer based on the described clinical features.