The clinical effect of herbal magnetic corsets on lumbar disc herniation.

OBJECTIVE To determine the clinical effects of the treatment of lumbar disc herniation 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.