A Review of Acupuncture Treatment Methods for Lumbar Herniated Intervertebral Disc

The purpose of this study was to review clinical studies of lumbar herniated intervertebral disc (LHIVD) treatment using acupuncture. Online database (PubMed, COCHRANE Library, EMBASE, CNKI, KISS, NDSL, KoreaMed, KMbase, OASIS, and KISTI) searches were conducted in May 2018. Studies that used acupuncture, electroacupuncture or warm needle acupuncture were included, along with participants who had lower back pain and radiating pain of their lower limbs consistent with radiological findings. Animal studies and nonclinical data were excluded. Data on treatment methods, site, time, frequency, period, and scales used were analyzed. There were 69 studies including 38 randomized controlled trials, 14 retrospective observational studies, and 17 clinical case studies. There were 51 acupoints selected for acupuncture treatment of LHIVD. The most frequently treated acupoints were BL23, BL25, BL24, and BL40. The mean treatment time, frequency, and duration were 26.06±6.70 mins, 6.29±1.70 times/week, and 20.57±11.04 days, respectively, in randomized controlled trials (RCT), and 18.62±4.60 mins, 11.58±3.99 times/week, and 34.43±17.62 days, respectively, in case/retrospective studies (mean±SD). This review collates information about acupuncture treatment methods for LHIVD.