Herniated DiscNCT07752199
Effects of Neural Mobilization Combined With Manual Therapy on Infrared Thermography, Inflammatory Markers and Clinical Outcomes in Patients With Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Randomized Controlled Clinical Trial
A study testing Neural Mobilization and Manual Therapy in people with Herniated Disc and Sciatica Due to Intervertebral Disc Disorder, run by Longhua Hospital at 1 site in China.
Trial summary
The objective of this randomized controlled clinical trial is to evaluate whether manual therapy combined with neural mobilization can improve pain, functional impairment, quality of life, inflammatory markers, and infrared thermographic findings in patients with lumbar disc herniation. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Herniated Disc, Sciatica Due to Intervertebral Disc Disorder
- What is being tested?
- Neural Mobilization and Manual Therapy
- Type of treatment
- Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- Yes, some participants may receive a placebo
- How many people
- 72 participants
- Where
- 1 siteChina
- Study dates
- 1 Apr 2025to 31 Dec 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 18 to 65 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- -
- Participants will be eligible for inclusion if they meet the following criteria:
- Adults aged 18-65 years. Diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation based on clinical symptoms and imaging findings.
- Presence of unilateral lumbar radiculopathy. Persistent symptoms despite initial conservative management. Ability to participate in the intervention protocol. Provided written informed consent before study enrollment.
Who cannot join
- -
- Participants will be excluded if they meet any of the following criteria:
- Requirement for surgical intervention for lumbar disc herniation. Serious spinal conditions, including spinal infection, tumor, or fracture. Severe systemic diseases or acute inflammatory conditions. Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Receipt of other interventions that may affect study outcomes during the study period.
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
China1 site
Longhua Hospital affiliated to Shanghai University of Traditional Chinese Medicine
Shanghai, 200032
About this study
Official title: Effects of Neural Mobilization Combined With Manual Therapy on Functional Outcomes and Exploratory Infrared Thermographic Changes in Patients With Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial
The objective of this randomized controlled clinical trial is to evaluate whether manual therapy combined with neural mobilization can improve pain, functional impairment, quality of life, inflammatory markers, and infrared thermographic findings in patients with lumbar disc herniation. The study subjects consist of 72 patients with lumbar disc herniation (aged 18-65 years, with unilateral lumbar radicular symptoms).
The primary questions it aims to address are:
Read more
- In patients with lumbar disc herniation, is manual therapy combined with neural mobilization more effective than manual therapy alone in relieving pain and improving functional impairment?
- Can manual therapy combined with neural mobilization improve patients' quality of life, inflammation-related markers (IL-6 and TNF-α), and body temperature changes detected by infrared thermography?
The researchers compared:
- Experimental group: manual therapy combined with neural mobilization (36 cases)
- Control group: manual therapy with sham neural mobilization (36 cases) to determine whether adding neural mobilization can provide additional therapeutic effects, including better pain relief, functional recovery, and improvement in related physiological indicators.
Participants will:
- Receive a 3-week course of treatment, totaling approximately 11 sessions.
- Undergo standardized manual therapy, including lumbar mobilization and soft tissue therapy, to help relieve pain and improve mobility.
- Receive additional treatment according to group assignment:
- The experimental group will receive sciatic nerve mobilization through gentle, controlled leg movements to improve nerve function and reduce nerve sensitivity.
- The control group will receive lumbar traction therapy to relieve lumbar stress.
- Be assessed before and after treatment, including pain scores, functional impairment scores (ODI), quality of life surveys (SF-12), infrared thermography examinations, and blood tests for inflammatory markers.
- Being tested
- Neural Mobilization, Sham Neural Mobilization, Manual Therapy
- Medical subject headings
- Intervertebral Disc Displacement
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Neural MobilizationBehavioural
Neural mobilization will be performed using neurodynamics techniques, aiming to improve neural activity and reduce neural mechanosensitivity. The intervention will be conducted over a period of three weeks.
Sham Neural MobilizationBehavioural
The posture and duration of pseudo neural stretching therapy do not produce the expected neurodynamic effects.
Manual TherapyBehavioural
Participants in both groups will receive standardized manual therapy targeting the lumbar spine. The intervention includes lumbar posterior-to-anterior (PA) mobilization and soft tissue mobilization techniques applied to the lumbar paraspinal muscles, gluteal muscles, piriformis, and proximal hamstrings. Manual therapy will be performed within a tolerable range without provoking symptom exacerbation and will be administered every other day for 3 weeks (a total of 11 sessions).
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Arm 1 | Experimental | Manual Therapy + Neural Mobilization Receives: Behavioral: Neural Mobilization; Behavioral: Manual Therapy |
| Arm 2 | Sham comparator | Manual Therapy + Sham Neural Mobilization Receives: Behavioral: Sham Neural Mobilization; Behavioral: Manual Therapy |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Change in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) Score
Measured: Baseline and Week 3 (end of intervention)
Secondary outcomes (4)
Change in Pain Intensity Measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Measured: Baseline and Week 3 (end of intervention)
Health-related quality of life (SF-12)
Measured: Baseline and Week 3
Change in Infrared Thermographic Temperature Parameters
Measured: Baseline, Week 1, and Week 3
Change in Serum Inflammatory Biomarkers (IL-6 and TNF-α)
Measured: Baseline and Week 3
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted7 Aug 2026
- Study start1 Apr 2025
- Primary completion31 Dec 2025
- Study completion31 Dec 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (3)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Herniated DiscStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Participant, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 72 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Longhua Hospital
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Jiaqi Shi, Longhua Hospital
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07752199
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- TJX62023007
- Other IDs
- ZYYZDKXK-2023059
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 3 Aug 2026
- Last updated
- 7 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Basson A, Olivier B, Ellis R, Coppieters M, Stewart A, Mudzi W. The Effectiveness of Neural Mobilization for Neuromusculoskeletal Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017 Sep;47(9):593-615. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2017.7117. Epub 2017 Jul 13.
PubMed 28704626Ware J Jr, Kosinski M, Keller SD. A 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey: construction of scales and preliminary tests of reliability and validity. Med Care. 1996 Mar;34(3):220-33. doi: 10.1097/00005650-199603000-00003.
PubMed 8628042Fairbank JC, Pynsent PB. The Oswestry Disability Index. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2000 Nov 15;25(22):2940-52; discussion 2952. doi: 10.1097/00007632-200011150-00017.
PubMed 11074683
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 7 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effects of Neural Mobilization Combined With Manual Therapy on Functional Outcomes and Exploratory Infrared Thermographic Changes in Patients With Lumbar Disc Herniation: A Randomized Sham-Controlled Trial
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07752199
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TJX62023007
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 72 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Longhua HospitalUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 1 Apr 2025 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 31 Dec 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 31 Dec 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 7 Aug 2026 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The objective of this randomized controlled clinical trial is to evaluate whether manual therapy combined with neural mobilization can improve pain, functional impairment, quality of life, inflammatory markers, and infrared thermographic findings in patients with lumbar disc herniation. The study subjects consist of 72 patients with lumbar disc herniation (aged 18-65 years, with unilateral lumbar radicular symptoms).
The primary questions it aims to address are:
- In patients with lumbar disc herniation, is manual therapy combined with neural mobilization more effective than manual therapy alone in relieving pain and improving functional impairment?
- Can manual therapy combined with neural mobilization improve patients' quality of life, inflammation-related markers (IL-6 and TNF-α), and body temperature changes detected by infrared thermography?
The researchers compared:
- Experimental group: manual therapy combined with neural mobilization (36 cases)
- Control group: manual therapy with sham neural mobilization (36 cases) to determine whether adding neural mobilization can provide additional therapeutic effects, including better pain relief, functional recovery, and improvement in related physiological indicators.
Participants will:
- Receive a 3-week course of treatment, totaling approximately 11 sessions.
- Undergo standardized manual therapy, including lumbar mobilization and soft tissue therapy, to help relieve pain and improve mobility.
- Receive additional treatment according to group assignment:
- The experimental group will receive sciatic nerve mobilization through gentle, controlled leg movements to improve nerve function and reduce nerve sensitivity.
- The control group will receive lumbar traction therapy to relieve lumbar stress.
- Be assessed before and after treatment, including pain scores, functional impairment scores (ODI), quality of life surveys (SF-12), infrared thermography examinations, and blood tests for inflammatory markers.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (participant, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Arm 1 | Experimental | Behavioral: Neural Mobilization, Behavioral: Manual TherapyManual Therapy + Neural Mobilization |
| Arm 2 | Sham comparator | Behavioral: Sham Neural Mobilization, Behavioral: Manual TherapyManual Therapy + Sham Neural Mobilization |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 to 65 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (4 listed)
- -
- Adults aged 18-65 years. Diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation based on clinical symptoms and imaging findings.
- Presence of unilateral lumbar radiculopathy. Persistent symptoms despite initial conservative management. Ability to participate in the intervention protocol. Provided written informed consent before study enrollment.
Key exclusion criteria (3 listed)
- -
- Requirement for surgical intervention for lumbar disc herniation. Serious spinal conditions, including spinal infection, tumor, or fracture. Severe systemic diseases or acute inflammatory conditions. Pregnancy or breastfeeding. Receipt of other interventions that may affect study outcomes during the study period.
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Neural MobilizationNeural mobilization will be performed using neurodynamics techniques, aiming to improve neural activity and reduce neural mechanosensitivity. The intervention will be conducted over a period of three weeks. | Behavioural | Arm 1 |
| Sham Neural MobilizationThe posture and duration of pseudo neural stretching therapy do not produce the expected neurodynamic effects. | Behavioural | Arm 2 |
| Manual TherapyParticipants in both groups will receive standardized manual therapy targeting the lumbar spine. The intervention includes lumbar posterior-to-anterior (PA) mobilization and soft tissue mobilization techniques applied to the lumbar paraspinal muscles, gluteal muscles, piriformis, and proximal hamstrings. Manual therapy will be performed within a tolerable range without provoking symptom exacerbation and will be administered every other day for 3 weeks (a total of 11 sessions). | Behavioural | Arm 1, Arm 2 |
Primary outcome
Change in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) Score
Time frame: Baseline and Week 3 (end of intervention)
4 secondary outcomes
Change in Pain Intensity Measured by Visual Analog Scale (VAS)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 3 (end of intervention)
Health-related quality of life (SF-12)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 3
Change in Infrared Thermographic Temperature Parameters
Time frame: Baseline, Week 1, and Week 3
Change in Serum Inflammatory Biomarkers (IL-6 and TNF-α)
Time frame: Baseline and Week 3
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 7 Aug 2026.
- Results publication: PubMed 28704626Basson A, Olivier B, Ellis R, Coppieters M, Stewart A, Mudzi W. The Effectiveness of Neural Mobilization for Neuromusculoskeletal Conditions: A Systematic Review and Meta-analysis. J Orthop Sports Phys Ther. 2017 Sep;47(9):593-615. doi: 10.2519/jospt.2017.7117. Epub 2017 Jul 13.
- Results publication: PubMed 8628042Ware J Jr, Kosinski M, Keller SD. A 12-Item Short-Form Health Survey: construction of scales and preliminary tests of reliability and validity. Med Care. 1996 Mar;34(3):220-33. doi: 10.1097/00005650-199603000-00003.
- Results publication: PubMed 11074683Fairbank JC, Pynsent PB. The Oswestry Disability Index. Spine (Phila Pa 1976). 2000 Nov 15;25(22):2940-52; discussion 2952. doi: 10.1097/00007632-200011150-00017.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Neural Mobilization and Manual Therapy in people with Herniated Disc and Sciatica Due to Intervertebral Disc Disorder, run by Longhua Hospital at 1 site in China.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 4 inclusion and 3 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 7 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in China. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. Some participants in this study may receive a placebo. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Change in Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) Score (time frame: Baseline and Week 3 (end of intervention)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT07752199, which also lists 3 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 7 Aug 2026.