The clinical effect of herbal magnetic corsets on lumbar disc herniation

He, Chengqi
Chen, Peng
Wang, Xiaohong
Ding, Mingfu
Lan, Qun
Han, Mei

Rehabilitation Medical Center of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, Sichuan, China

Address for correspondence: Peng Chen, Rehabilitation Medical Center of West China Hospital, Sichuan University, 610041, Chengdu, Sichuan, China, e-mail: [email protected]

Received 6th November 2005; returned for revisions 29th December 2005; revised manuscript accepted 7th May 2006.

Clinical Rehabilitation 20(12):p 1058-1065, December 2006.

Objective

To determine the clinical effects of the treatment of lumbar discherniation with herbal magnetic corsets.

Design

A randomized control trial.

Setting

The outpatient and inpatient departments of the Rehabilitation Center of the West China Hospital.

Patients

Sixty patients with clinically diagnosed lumbar disc herniation were included in the study.

Interventions

Both groups received lumbar traction, medium frequency electrotherapy and massage, whereas the experimental group wore herbal magnetic corsets in addition.

Main outcome measures

Pain and lumbar function were assessed before treatment and at one week, two weeks and four weeks after intervention.

Results

Both groups reported improvements in pain and lumbar function after treatment (P < 0.05 or P < 0.001). However, the experimental group reported gradually increasing relief over time leading to a better curative effect than observed in the control group (P < 0.05 for visual analogue scale or P < 0.001 for lumbar function).

Conclusion

Herbal magnetic corsets can facilitate the reduction of pain caused by lumbar disc herniation and can improve lumbar function. This is a safe and effective non-operative therapeutic option for treatment of lumbar disc herniation.