Efficacy evaluation of Mongolian medical warm acupuncture for sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation: a randomized, controlled, single-blind clinical trial.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to evaluate the short-term and long-term efficacy of Mongolian medical warm acupuncture for sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation (LDH).
Results Summary
Warm acupuncture significantly reduced leg and waist pain compared to sham acupuncture and conventional drug treatment, improved quality of life metrics, and showed long-term efficacy. The total effective rate was higher in the warm acupuncture group at follow-up.
Population
Patients diagnosed with sciatica caused by LDH.
Effective Dosage
Not specified (treatment administered over 4 weeks).
Duration
4 weeks of treatment, with an 8-week follow-up.
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
warm acupuncture of the Mongolian medicine | decrease | VAS-LP scores | patients with sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation | - | significantly decreased | #1 |
warm acupuncture of the Mongolian medicine | decrease | VAS-WP scores | patients with sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation | - | significantly decreased | #2 |
warm acupuncture of the Mongolian medicine | decrease | pain | patients with sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation | - | pain was improved | #3 |
warm acupuncture of the Mongolian medicine | increase | total effective rate | patients with sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation | - | total effective rate was markedly higher | #4 |
sham acupuncture | no change | Mongolian medicine indicators | patients with sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation | - | resulted in no evident improvement | #5 |
warm acupuncture of the Mongolian medicine | increase | physical function scores of the SF-36 survey | patients with sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation | - | showed a significant increase | #6 |
warm acupuncture of the Mongolian medicine | increase | physical role scores of the SF-36 survey | patients with sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation | - | showed a significant increase | #7 |
warm acupuncture of the Mongolian medicine | increase | body pain scores of the SF-36 survey | patients with sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation | - | showed a significant increase | #8 |
warm acupuncture of the Mongolian medicine | increase | emotional and mental health role scores of the SF-36 survey | patients with sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation | - | showed a significant increase | #9 |
Mongolian medical warm acupuncture | decrease | leg and waist pain | patients with sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation | - | effectively relieves | #10 |
Mongolian medical warm acupuncture | increase | the total therapeutic effect | patients with sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation | - | improves | #11 |
Mongolian medical warm acupuncture | increase | the quality of daily life | patients with sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation | - | improves | #12 |
OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to evaluate the short-term and long-term efficacy of Mongolian medical warm acupuncture for sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation (LDH). PATIENTS AND METHODS: The patients diagnosed with sciatica caused by LDH were randomly divided into the warm acupuncture of the Mongolian medicine group (n = 42, warm acupuncture treatment), the sham acupuncture group (n = 38, sham acupuncture using blunt-tipped needles) and the conventional drug group (n = 40, ibuprofen sustained release capsule). All patients were treated for 4 weeks and followed up for 8 weeks. The visual analog scale for leg pain (VAS-LP), Mongolian medicine indicators (efficacy indicators), VAS for waist pain (VAS-WP) and the Mos 36-item short form health survey (SF-36) score were analyzed at baseline, after two-week treatment, after four-week treatment, at four-week follow-up and at eight-week follow-up. RESULTS: Warm acupuncture treatment significantly decreased the VAS-LP and VAS-WP scores of patients at treatment and follow-up (p < 0.05), and pain was improved compared to the conventional drug group and sham acupuncture group. The total effective rate was markedly higher in the warm acupuncture of the Mongolian medicine group compared with the conventional drug group at 8-week follow-up (p < 0.05), but sham acupuncture treatment resulted in no evident improvement in the Mongolian medicine indicators. Additionally, at treatment and follow-up, warm acupuncture of the Mongolian medicine group showed a significant increase in the physical function, physical role, body pain, and emotional and mental health role scores of the SF-36 survey compared with the sham acupuncture groups. CONCLUSIONS: Mongolian medical warm acupuncture effectively relieves leg and waist pain and improves the total therapeutic effect and the quality of daily life for patients with sciatica caused by LDH, with significant long-term efficacy. Our study provides a basis for warm acupuncture in the treatment of sciatica caused by LDH. Chinese Clinical Trial Registry ID: ChiCTR- INR-15007413.