A randomized clinical trial published in Developmental Medicine & Child Neurology has assessed whether injections of botulinumtoxin-A in calf muscles benefit children with cerebral palsy, reports Medical Xpress.

"We hypothesized that injections with botulinumtoxin-A in the calf muscles would make walking easier, caused by improved ankle joint functioning following spasticity reduction," the authors wrote.

In the trial, one botulinumtoxin-A treatment was not superior to placebo in making walking easier—measured as a reduction in energy cost or improved walking capacity; however, there was some evidence of a delayed improvement in energy cost.

Moreover, there was some evidence of a decrease in calf pain intensity.

No serious adverse events related to botulinumtoxin-A treatment were recorded.