Clinical Effects of Moxibustion Combined With Tailored Baduanjin Exercise Programs on Early Postoperative Rehabilitation in Lumbar Disc Herniation Patients Undergoing Minimally Invasive Surgery

Overview

This study is a single-center randomized controlled trial, aiming to explore the effect of moxibustion combined with the modified Baduanjin exercise regimen on the early rehabilitation of patients with lumbar disc herniation (LDH) after minimally invasive surgery. A total of 120 patients were included in the study and randomly divided into the control group (conventional treatment and rehabilitation care), the Baduanjin group (conventional treatment + modified Baduanjin), and the combined intervention group (conventional treatment + Baduanjin + moxibustion). By comparing the visual pain scores (VAS), lumbar function scores (JOA), lumbar range of motion, and anxiety scale (HAMA) changes at 1 day, 1 month, and 3 months after surgery, the study evaluated the improvement effect of the integrated traditional Chinese medicine and Western medicine rehabilitation plan on postoperative pain relief, functional recovery, and psychological state. The study innovatively integrates the advantages of traditional Chinese medicine moxibustion for warming and promoting meridians and the low-intensity exercise of the modified Baduanjin, optimizes the difficulty of traditional rehabilitation training, and provides evidence-based basis for improving patient compliance and standardizing postoperative rehabilitation programs.

Interventions

• Procedure Baduanjin
  The Baduanjin protocol, based on China's 2003 General Administration of Sport standard, was modified by professional physiotherapists for targeted adaptations, with nurses receiving specialized training. Patients viewed step-by-step instructional clips upon admission alongside a full-length routine video. Standard postoperative rehabilitation was maintained during Weeks 1-2. At Week 3, patients demonstrating adequate wound healing and unimpaired static lumbar muscle contraction performed Baduanj
• Procedure Moxibustion
  Moxibustion was performed at acupoints including Yaoyangguan (GV3), Shenshu (BL23), Dachangshu (BL25, affected side), Chengfu (BL36), Mingmen (GV4), Weizhong (BL40, affected side), Taixi (KI3), Fuliu (KI7), Zhishi (BL52), Zusanli (ST36), and Ashi points. Using five-year-aged Qizhou mugwort, the patient's treatment areas were fully exposed in a comfortable position. The moxa stick was held 3-4 cm from the skin with intensity adjusted to patient tolerance to prevent burns. The circular moxibustion
• Procedure Conventional intervention
  Postoperative Rehabilitation Exercises: Week 1: Ankle Pump Exercises: Start after anesthesia. Slowly rotate/invert, dorsiflex/plantarflex ankles. Hold each position 10-15s. 30 min/set, 6 sets/day, until ambulation. Straight Leg Raising (SLR): Start Day 2, supine. Elevate leg \>30°. Progress from passive to active hold. Hold 5-10s/rep, 10-20 reps/set. 3 sets (morning/noon/night) daily for 15 days. Week 2: Supine hip/knee flexion exercises in bed. Hold each flexion 3-5s. 30-50 reps/set. 2 sets/day

Primary outcome measures

• Japanese Orthopaedic Society,JOA [Time frame: The 1st day after the operation, 1 month after the operation, 3 months after the operation]

Secondary outcome measures (2)

• Hamilton anxiety scale,HAMA [Time frame: The 1st day after the operation, 1 month after the operation, 3 months after the operation]
• Visual Analogue Scale，VAS [Time frame: The 1st day after the operation, 1 month after the operation, 3 months after the operation]

Eligibility criteria

Inclusion criteria

• ① Refer to the diagnostic criteria for LDH in the "Diagnosis and Treatment Guidelines for Lumbar Intervertebral Disc Protrusion (2020 Edition)";

• Age > 18 years old; ③ Patients who have not responded to conservative treatment and have undergone minimally invasive surgery for lumbar intervertebral disc protrusion in our hospital, including percutaneous puncture interventional procedures (percutaneous intervertebral disc aspiration, percutaneous intervertebral disc laser ablation, percutaneous intervertebral disc ozone ablation, and radiofrequency nucleus removal and formation), micro-lumbar intervertebral disc resection, micro-endoscopic lumbar intervertebral disc resection, and percutaneous endoscopic lumbar intervertebral disc resection; ④ Participants who voluntarily participate in this study.

Exclusion criteria

• ① Previous history of lumbar surgery;

• Those with severe spinal canal stenosis or other severe deformities;

• Patients with bleeding tendencies or hematological diseases; ④ Patients with mental disorders and cognitive impairments; ⑤ Patients allergic to the drugs used in the study; ⑥ Patients with severe primary diseases (such as tuberculosis, tumors and mental disorders), or those with postoperative lumbar infections.

Criteria are shown verbatim from the registry (in English). Final eligibility is always assessed by the study center.

Healthy volunteers: No

Study design

Allocation

Randomized

Model

Parallel assignment

Masking

Double blind

Primary purpose

Treatment

Study locations

Center list to be confirmed — check the primary protocol.

Identifiers

NCT: NCT07015658 · IIT-I-2025-062

Primary sources (government registries)

• ClinicalTrials.gov (US NIH)

View this study on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗