Effects of Warm Needling Combined with Core Muscle Rehabilitation Training on VAS Scores and Lumbar Function in Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Randomized Controlled Study
Restricted accessResearch articleFirst published online 2026
Effects of Warm Needling Combined with Core Muscle Rehabilitation Training on VAS Scores and Lumbar Function in Patients with Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Randomized Controlled Study
Objective: To investigate the effects of warm needling combined with core muscle rehabilitation training on pain, lumbar function, inflammatory responses, and biomechanical parameters in patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Methods: In this prospective study, 100 patients with LDH treated between January 2023 and October 2025 were randomly assigned to a control group (core muscle rehabilitation training alone) or an intervention group (warm needling plus the same training). Outcome measures included serum metabolites, inflammatory markers [tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), interleukin-1β (IL-1β), interleukin-23 (IL-23), and CXC chemokine ligand 8 (CXCL8)], lumbar biomechanical parameters, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) scores, Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores, and clinical efficacy. Results: Baseline metabolites and inflammatory markers were comparable between groups (P > 0.05). After treatment, levels of β-cryptoxanthin, citric acid, and lysine increased in both groups, with significantly greater increases in the intervention group (P < 0.05). Inflammatory markers (TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-23, and CXCL8) decreased significantly after treatment, with more pronounced reductions in the intervention group (P < 0.05). Both groups showed significant reductions in VAS scores and improvements in JOA scores, favoring the intervention group (P < 0.05). Lumbar flexion/extension ratios decreased, while average power and peak extension moment increased, with superior improvements in the intervention group (P < 0.05). The excellent-good response rate was 93.88% in the intervention group versus 78.00% in the control group (P < 0.05). Conclusion: Warm needling combined with core muscle rehabilitation training effectively alleviates pain, improves lumbar function, suppresses inflammatory responses, and enhances clinical outcomes in patients with LDH.
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