BoNT-A Does Not Affect Gross Energy Cost of Walking in Cerebral Palsy
By Elana Gotkine HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, Aug. 12, 2024 -- For children with cerebral palsy (CP), a single injection of botulinum neurotoxin A (BoNT-A) into the calf muscles does not affect the gross energy cost of walking, according to a study published online July 26 in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology.
Siri Merete Brændvik, from the Norwegian University of Science and Technology in Trondheim, and colleagues conducted a quadruple-blind, placebo-controlled, multicenter trial involving 61 children with spastic CP and classified in Gross Motor Function Classification System (GMFCS) levels I and II. Participants were randomly allocated to single injections of BoNT-A or 0.9 percent saline into the calf muscles.
The researchers found that the mean change in energy cost did not differ significantly between the groups at the primary time point of 12 weeks or at four weeks or 24 weeks after the injection. There was some evidence for a larger reduction in pain intensity for participants receiving BoNT-A with respect to secondary end points of walking capacity, habitual physical activity, perceived change in mobility tasks, and calf pain.
"The results suggest that BoNT-A injected into the calf muscles may reduce pain in children with CP classified in GMFCS levels I and II, although this requires further research," the authors write.
Disclaimer: Statistical data in medical articles provide general trends and do not pertain to individuals. Individual factors can vary greatly. Always seek personalized medical advice for individual healthcare decisions.
© 2025 HealthDay. All rights reserved.
Posted August 2024
Read this next
Pain Diagnoses Seen for Most Patients With Cerebral Palsy
WEDNESDAY, Aug. 14, 2024 -- Most patients (89.0 percent) with cerebral palsy (CP) have one or more documented pain diagnoses, according to a research letter published online Aug...
Robot-Assisted Gait Training Beneficial for Children With Cerebral Palsy
TUESDAY, July 30, 2024 -- Overground robot-assisted gait training (RAGT) using a wearable robot improves gross motor function and gait pattern in children with cerebral palsy...
Prenatal Fine Particulate Matter Exposure Linked to Cerebral Palsy
FRIDAY, July 12, 2024 -- Prenatal ambient fine particulate matter (PM2.5) exposure is associated with an increased risk for cerebral palsy, according to a study published online...
More news resources
- FDA Medwatch Drug Alerts
- Daily MedNews
- News for Health Professionals
- New Drug Approvals
- New Drug Applications
- Drug Shortages
- Clinical Trial Results
- Generic Drug Approvals
Subscribe to our newsletter
Whatever your topic of interest, subscribe to our newsletters to get the best of Drugs.com in your inbox.