Electroacupuncture for Insomnia in Patients With Chronic Sciatica Due to Lumbar Disc Herniation: … (NCT07576348) | Clinical Trial Compass
Not Yet RecruitingNot Applicable
Electroacupuncture for Insomnia in Patients With Chronic Sciatica Due to Lumbar Disc Herniation: a Randomized Controlled Trial
114 participantsStarted 2026-05
Plain-language summary
The goal of this clinical trial is to learn if electroacupuncture can improve sleep in people with chronic sciatica caused by lumbar disc herniation. It will also assess the safety of this treatment. The main questions it aims to answer are whether electroacupuncture improves sleep quality and whether it reduces pain and improves daily function. Researchers will compare electroacupuncture to a sham treatment, which looks like real acupuncture but has little or no therapeutic effect, to determine its effectiveness. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive electroacupuncture or sham treatment, will receive treatment three times per week for four weeks, and will complete questionnaires about their sleep, pain, and daily activities.
Who can participate
Age range
18 Years – 75 Years
Sex
ALL
See this in plain English?
AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.
Inclusion criteria
. Aged 18-75 years, of either sex;
. Diagnosis with lumbar disc herniation accompanied by unilateral chronic sciatica (disease duration ≥ 3 months);
. Experiencing moderate to severe radiating leg pain (below the knee), defined as a Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) score ≥ 4 at screening within the past 24 h;
. Diagnosis of chronic insomnia, with a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) total score \> 7;
. Onset or exacerbation of insomnia temporally associated with the onset or worsening of sciatica symptoms;
. Willing to participate and able to provide written informed consent.
Exclusion criteria
Questions worth asking your doctor
Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.
1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?
Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.
Questions for the trial coordinator
The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.
1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?
A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.
What they're measuring
1
Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) total score
Timeframe: Week 4
Trial details
NCT IDNCT07576348
SponsorShanghai Yueyang Integrated Medicine Hospital
. Spinal or structural conditions: lumbar spinal stenosis, spondylolisthesis, vertebral fracture, spinal infection (e.g., tuberculosis), or tumor;
. Surgical indications: cauda equina syndrome, conus medullaris syndrome, or other conditions requiring urgent surgical intervention;
. Severe systemic diseases: unstable cardiovascular, hepatic, renal, respiratory, or hematological disorders, or metabolic conditions that may significantly affect study outcomes (e.g., uncontrolled diabetes or thyroid disease);
. Neurological or psychiatric disorders: major neurological diseases (e.g., epilepsy, Parkinson's disease, dementia, multiple sclerosis) or severe psychiatric disorders (e.g., schizophrenia);
. Clinically significant depression or anxiety, defined as Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9) ≥ 10 and/or Generalized Anxiety Disorder-7 (GAD-7) ≥ 10;
. Other primary sleep disorders, including obstructive sleep apnea, narcolepsy, or restless legs syndrome;
. Use of centrally acting medications: regular use (≥ 3 days/week within 4 weeks prior to enrolment) of medications affecting the central nervous system (e.g., opioids, sedative-hypnotics, antidepressants) without an adequate washout period (≥ 2 weeks or longer depending on drug half-life);
. Irregular sleep patterns, including night shift work (≥ 2 times/week between 22:00-06:00) or highly irregular sleep-wake cycles;