PRINTER'S NO. 1878
No. 303 Session of 2006
INTRODUCED BY WOZNIAK, FERLO, KASUNIC, BOSCOLA, FONTANA, COSTA,
STOUT, EARLL, ERICKSON, D. WHITE, PIPPY, ORIE, TARTAGLIONE,
CONTI, O'PAKE, C. WILLIAMS, RAFFERTY, GREENLEAF, WENGER,
BRIGHTBILL AND ARMSTRONG, JUNE 19, 2006
REFERRED TO RULES AND EXECUTIVE NOMINATIONS, JUNE 19, 2006
A RESOLUTION
1 Designating the week of May 7 through 13, 2006, as "Charcot-
2 Marie-Tooth Association Awareness Week" in Pennsylvania.
3 WHEREAS, Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) is the most common
4 inherited neurological disorder, affecting approximately 150,000
5 persons in the United States; and
6 WHEREAS, Also known as hereditary motor and sensory
7 neuropathy or peroneal muscular atrophy, CMT comprises a group
8 of disorders caused by mutations in genes that affect the normal
9 function of the peripheral nerves, which nerves lie outside the
10 brain and spinal cord and supply the muscles and sensory organs
11 in the limbs; and
12 WHEREAS, A typical feature includes weakness of the foot and
13 lower leg muscles, which may result in foot drop and a high-
14 stepped gait with frequent tripping or falls. Foot deformities,
15 such as high arches and hammertoes are also characteristic due
16 to weakness of the small muscles in the feet. In addition, the
17 lower legs may take on an "inverted champagne bottle" appearance
1 due to the loss of muscle bulk. Later in the disease, weakness
2 and muscle atrophy may occur in the hands, resulting in
3 difficulty with fine motor skills; and
4 WHEREAS, The Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association (CMTA) in
5 Chester, Pennsylvania, has educated and served this Commonwealth
6 for more than 20 years; and
7 WHEREAS, While there is no cure for CMT, physical therapy
8 improves the muscle strength and endurance of persons with CMT;
9 and
10 WHEREAS, The Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association awareness and
11 outreach campaign in Pennsylvania can be used as a national
12 model; and
13 WHEREAS, CMTA is leading the charge for educational programs
14 dedicated to training doctors at medical colleges in this
15 Commonwealth to identify and treat CMT symptoms; therefore be it
16 RESOLVED, That the Senate designate the week of May 7 through
17 13, 2006, as "Charcot-Marie-Tooth Association Awareness Week" in
18 Pennsylvania.
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