Can gait retraining or botox shots replace surgery for leg pain?
NCT ID NCT04409600
First seen Jun 25, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested four non-surgical treatments for chronic exertional compartment syndrome (CECS), a condition that causes leg pain during exercise. 35 active-duty military members were assigned to supervised gait retraining, home-based gait retraining, saline injections, or botulinum toxin injections. Researchers tracked their running ability, pain, and function for up to two years to see if these options could offer an alternative to surgery.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- botulinum toxin injection
- What this could lead to
- If successful, this could provide effective non-surgical alternatives to surgery for people with chronic exertional compartment syndrome, helping them return to running and active duty without an operation.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small, early-phase study with only 35 participants, so results may not apply to everyone. The treatments may not work as well as surgery, and botulinum toxin injections carry risks like muscle weakness or allergic reaction.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Carl R. Darnell Army Medical Center
Killeen, Texas, 76544, United States
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Fort Belvoir Community Hospital
Fort Belvoir, Virginia, 22060, United States
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Walter Reed National Military Medical Center
Bethesda, Maryland, 20307, United States
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Womack Army Medical Center
Fort Bragg, North Carolina, 28310, United States
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