CompletedNot Applicable

Effects of Neural Mobilization Combined With Manual Therapy on Infrared Thermography, Inflammatory Markers and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial

China72 participantsStarted 2025-04-01

Plain-language summary

The objective of this randomized controlled clinical trial is to evaluate whether manual therapy combined with neural mobilization can improve pain, functional impairment, quality of life, inflammatory markers, and infrared thermographic findings in patients with lumbar disc herniation. The study subjects consist of 72 patients with lumbar disc herniation (aged 18-65 years, with unilateral lumbar radicular symptoms). The primary questions it aims to address are: 1. In patients with lumbar disc herniation, is manual therapy combined with neural mobilization more effective than manual therapy alone in relieving pain and improving functional impairment? 2. Can manual therapy combined with neural mobilization improve patients' quality of life, inflammation-related markers (IL-6 and TNF-α), and body temperature changes detected by infrared thermography? The researchers compared: * Experimental group: manual therapy combined with neural mobilization (36 cases) * Control group: manual therapy with sham neural mobilization (36 cases) to determine whether adding neural mobilization can provide additional therapeutic effects, including better pain relief, functional recovery, and improvement in related physiological indicators. Participants will: * Receive a 3-week course of treatment, totaling approximately 11 sessions. * Undergo standardized manual therapy, including lumbar mobilization and soft tissue therapy, to help relieve pain and improve mobility. * Receive additional treatment according to group assignment: * The experimental group will receive sciatic nerve mobilization through gentle, controlled leg movements to improve nerve function and reduce nerve sensitivity. * The control group will receive lumbar traction therapy to relieve lumbar stress. * Be assessed before and after treatment, including pain scores, functional impairment scores (ODI), quality of life surveys (SF-12), infrared thermography examinations, and blood tests for inflammatory markers.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 65 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: \- Participants will be eligible for inclusion if they meet the following criteria: Adults aged 18-65 years. Diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation based on clinical symptoms and imaging findings. Presence of unilateral lumbar radiculopathy. Persistent symptoms despite initial conservative management. Ability to participate in the intervention protocol. Provided written informed consent before study enrollment. Exclusion Criteria: \- Participants will be excluded if they meet any of the following criteria: Requirement for surgical intervention for lumbar disc herniation. Serious spinal conditions, including spinal infection, tumor, or fracture. Severe systemic diseases or acute inflammatory conditions. Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Receipt of other interventions that may affect study outcomes during the study period.

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

Change in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) Score

Timeframe: Baseline and Week 3 (end of intervention)

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07752199

SponsorLonghua Hospital

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-12-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Herniated Disc trials