Comparing the effect of acupuncture and medical treatment on subjective symptoms and neuromuscular electrophysiologic changes in patients with lumbar disk herniation

Comparing the effect of acupuncture and medical treatment on clinical symptoms and electromyography/nerve conduction velocity (EMG/NCV) changes in patients with lumbar disk herniation

Status

Active, not recruiting

Phases

Phase 3

Study type

Interventional

Source

IRCT

Registry ID

IRCT2012122911912N2

Enrollment

105

Registered

2015-12-03

Start date

2013-08-23

Completion date

Unknown

Last updated

2018-02-22

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Lumbar disc herniation. Other intervertebral disc disorders

Interventions

Intervention 1: Study group: Acupuncture treatment with 0.25840mm size needles in 20 acupoints , 3 times a week, each session 30 min for one month. Intervention 2: Control group: 100mg Celebrex tablet

Treatment - Drugs

Placebo

Study group: Acupuncture treatment with 0.25840mm size needles in 20 acupoints , 3 times a week, each session 30 min for one month

Control group: 100mg Celebrex tablets, twice daily (morning and night) plus Williams flexion exercise daily for one month

Added at 2016-09-10: acupuncture with 0.25*40 mm size needles on acupoints no effect on treatment , 3 times a week, each session 30 min for one month

Eligibility

Sex/Gender

All

Age

19 Years to No maximum

Inclusion criteria

Inclusion criteria: Major eligibility criteria: over 20 years of age, confirmed lumbar disc herniation, willing to participate. Major exclusion criteria: Polyneuritis or lesions of the cervical radicolopathy; hypothyroidism; multiple myeloma; amyloidosis; inability to perform daily functions individually; previous acupuncture treatment or surgery for low back pain; insulin dependent diabetes; pregnancy or less than 3 month post partum; epilepsy; cardiovascular disease; history of gastrointestinal disease and intolerance for NSAIDS; history of warfarin or heparin consumption or a hemorrhagic disease; having the indications for surgery according to red flags and yellow flags.

Exclusion criteria

Exclusion criteria:

Design outcomes

Primary

Measure	Time frame
Electrodiagnostic (EMG/NCV) changes (CMAP, DML, DSL, MNCV). Timepoint: before and 3 months after the intervention. Method of measurement: repeating the mentioned tests.	—

Secondary

Measure	Time frame
Reduced low back pain. Timepoint: before and 3 months afterintervention. Method of measurement: questionnaire.	—

Countries

Iran (Islamic Republic of)

Contacts

Public ContactHosein Hasanabadi

Mashhad University of Medical Sciences

hasanabadih@mums.ac.ir+98 51 3802 2353

Outcome results

None listed

Source: IRCT (via WHO ICTRP) · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026