CATEGORIES: PT and Exercise

Coaching Athletes with Charcot-Marie-Tooth

by | Sep 17, 2014 | 3 comments

Coaching Athletes with CMT imageMorgan Johnson doesn’t have Charcot-Marie-Tooth, but she is quickly learning everything she can about it.  Born and raised near the coast in Galveston, Texas, Morgan, 26, has been a competitive runner and swimmer since she was little.  Four years ago, she began participating in triathlons.  In 2009, as an undergrad at the University of North Texas, Morgan and her partner, Sean Thompson started a Youth Triathlon Team for 7-14 year olds.  Known as the North TX Tri Team, they have remained together and still compete.

Following graduation Morgan joined Playtri Performance Center in Dallas as its first ever Developmental Coach.  Playtri is a professional triathlon organization that offers a comprehensive “whole life” approach aimed to improve overall health and fitness.  This approach, plus Morgan’s coaching philosophy to “use the available research and science, but to remain flexible and remember that each athlete is an individual with individual goals,” made her the perfect choice as a coach for athlete Joyce Kelly.

Joyce, a member of Team CMT, approached Morgan about a year ago to be her coach.   “Joyce didn’t say she had CMT,” Morgan remembers. “She might have thought I already knew.  Her diagnosis took me by surprise.”  Morgan had never heard of CMT.  While researching the disease, Morgan contacted Dr. Robert Chetlin of West Virginia University School of Medicine and asked for help devising a plan for Joyce.  “Dr. Chetlin helped me understand the disease better, the effects of the disease on skeletal muscles and the effect of exercise on CMT.  He warned us away from exercises over-emphasizing balance and proprioception because they could result in injury due to Joyce’s CMT.”

With Dr. Chetlin’s guidance, Morgan was able to devise a routine which included exercises to strengthen Joyce’s ability to balance.   Thanks to proper training and, as Morgan puts it, “being stubborn,” Joyce is now able to go up and down stairs and stand on one foot.

A long time runner and biker, last year Joyce added swimming when she began participating in triathlons.   Morgan credits Joyce with “opening my eyes to a whole demographic that needs help with training.”   Morgan joined Team CMT to support Joyce and plans to raise awareness about the disease.  “A lot of progress can be made through awareness,” explains Morgan.   Through their connection, Joyce also sparked a passion for Morgan and her friend Darrick Walls to create the Para Triathlon Committee, whose goal is to work with experienced para coaches and athletes and make resources available to challenged athletes.

Morgan continues to research and study the intricacies of youth and developmental coaching, including those affected by CMT.   She’s glad to have Dr. Chetlin as a resource.  “I really value Dr. Chetlin’s opinion. The most important thing I think he’s told me,” she said, “is there is no such thing as one plan that will work for everyone.”  It is good advice which supports Morgan’s philosophy of “remembering that each athlete is an individual with individual goals.”

Joyce continues checking in with her favorite coach while training for numerous events this year.

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3 Comments

  1. shawna davis

    Do you notice that people with CMT are sore for much longer than other people you train? I’m sore for days longer than others

    Reply
    • Hopie

      Definitely! It is one of the most discouraging features of a regular program.

      Reply
      • Johan

        But how do you tackle this? I have really big problems after a training (run or cycling) which could take 1 or 2 weeks to recover.

        Reply

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