RESUMO
Objective: To observe the clinical efficacy of electroacupuncture and waist-building exercise in treating lumbar disk herniation. Methods: A multi-center, randomized controlled trial was adopted. Three hundred cases of lumbar disk herniations were divided into two groups, an observation group in which 149 cases were treated by electroacupuncture and waist-building exercise, and a control group in which 151 cases were treated by electroacupuncture alone. The clinical efficacy and long-term relapse rate were observed and compared between the two groups. Results: Among 149 cases in the observation group, 80 cases were cured, 57 cases improved, 12 cases failed and 4 cases relapsed; the cure rate was 53.7%, the total effective rate was 91.9% and the relapse rate was 5.0%. Among 151 cases in the control group, 74 cases were cured, 51 cases improved, 26 cases failed and 12 cases relapsed; the cure rate was 49.0%, the total effective rate was 82.8% and the relapse rate was 16.2%. There were significant differences in the cure rate and the total effective rate between the two groups (P<0.05). Conclusion: Combined electroacupuncture and waist-building exercise had better effects than electroacupuncture in treating lumbar disk herniation.