To investigate the effects of core muscle training plus traction in prone position on back and leg pain, neurological deficits and inflammatory factors in patients with lumbar disc herniation, so as to provide evidence for clinical practice.

A total of 100 patients with lumbar intervertebral disc herniation admitted to Southern Theater General Hospital between January 2015 and December 2019 were included and divided into the control group and study group by random number table (n=50 each) . The control group was treated with traction in prone position, and the study group received core muscle training in addition to the traction given in the control group. Visual analog scale (VAS) score, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) , American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) score and levels of inflammatory factors (CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α) were compared between the two groups.

After treatment, the VAS and ODI scores in the study group were lowered, and the JOA score was higher, compared with baseline and those in the control group (P<0.05) . By ASIA scores, the study group experienced improvement in grading of neurological deficits after treatment compared with baseline, and the improvement in the study group was also greater compared with the control group (P<0.05) . After treatment, the CRP, IL-6, and TNF-α levels were significantly lower in the study group compared with baseline and those in the control group (P<0.05) .

Core muscle training plus traction in prone position can reduce the pain symptoms, ameliorate nerve root compression, and inhibit excessive production of inflammatory factors in patients with lumbar disc herniation, and therefore warrants widespread use in clinical settings.

Lumbar disc herniation; Core muscle training; Traction in prone position; Pain; Function; Inflammatory factor