OBJECTIVE: To determine the clinical effects of the treatment of lumbar disc herniation with herbal magnetic corsets. DESIGN: A randomized control trial. SETTING: The outpatient and inpatient departments of the Rehabilitation Center of the West China Hospital. PATIENTS: Sixty patients with clinically diagnosed lumbar disc herniation were included in the study. INTERVENTIONS: Both groups received lumbar traction, medium frequency electrotherapy and massage, whereas the experimental group wore herbal magnetic corsets in addition. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: Pain and lumbar function were assessed before treatment and at one week, two weeks and four weeks after intervention. RESULTS: Both groups reported improvements in pain and lumbar function after treatment (p < 0.05 or p < 0.001). However, the experimental group reported gradually increasing relief over time leading to a better curative effect than observed in the control group (p < 0.05 for visual analogue scale or p < 0.001 for lumbar function). CONCLUSION: Herbal magnetic corsets can facilitate the reduction of pain caused by lumbar disc herniation and can improve lumbar function. This is a safe and effective non-operative therapeutic option for treatment of lumbar disc herniation.

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