To observe the short-term effect of acupuncture and moxibustion combined with lumbar traction on lumbar disc herniation, and its influence on stress response.

A total of 150 patients with lumbar disc herniation admitted to the Second People's Hospital of Yiwu from April 2016 to May 2018 were enrolled in the study.They were divided into control group and observation group according to the random digital table method, with 75 patients in each group.The control group was treated with lumbar traction.The observation group was treated with acupuncture and moxibustion on the basis of lumbar traction.The two groups were treated for 10 days.The short-term efficacy, the serum stress response indicators before and after treatment, and visual analog pain (VAS) scores were compared between the two groups.

The total effective rate of the observation group was 96.0% (72/75), which was significantly higher than that of the control group[84.0%(63/75)](χ²=5.258, P<0.05). Before treatment, there were no statistically significant differences in limb function, VAS score and serum stress response between the two groups (allP>0.05). After treatment, the VAS scores of the observation group[1 month after treatment (1.8±0.8)points, 2 months after treatment (1.5±0.6)points and 3 months after treatment (1.1±0.3)points]were significantly lower than those of the control group[1 month after treatment (2.8±1.3)points, 2 months after treatment (2.2±1.6)points, 3 months after treatment (2.1±1.2)points](t=16.391, 16.125, 16.935, all P<0.05). The levels of tumor necrosis factor, interleukin-1β, metalloproteinase-3 in the observation group were (0.80±0.27)μg/L, (0.12±0.02)μg/L, (21.12±7.81)ng/L, respectively, which in the control group were (1.35±0.24)μg/L, (0.12±0.02)μg/L, (30.35±7.25)ng/L, respectively, the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (t=6.732, 9.531, 7.863, all P<0.05). The Osweatry dysfunction index and the straight leg elevation angle of the observation group were (4.8±3.6), (76.1±10.8)°, respectively, which of the control group were (9.6±3.1), (53.3±10.2)°, respectively, the differences between the two groups were statistically significant (t=8.648, 19.543, all P<0.05).

Acupuncture and moxibustion combined with lumbar traction has good clinical effect on patients with lumbar disc herniation, which can alleviate pain, improve limb function and improve stress response.

Intervertebral disk displacement; Lumbar vertebrae; Acupuncture therapy; Moxibustion; Manipulation, spinal; Traction; Tumor necrosis factor; Interleukin-1β; Metalloproteinase-3; Pain