Does stronger back stretching beat gentle pull for sciatica pain?
NCT ID NCT02091791
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested two levels of lumbar traction (a procedure where the lower back is gently stretched) in 17 people with acute sciatica caused by a herniated disc. The goal was to see if higher pulling force reduces leg pain and improves movement better than lower force. Participants had symptoms for less than 6 weeks, and the study measured pain changes and mobility tests.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only, not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- lumbar traction procedure
- What this could lead to
- If high-force traction works better, it could offer a simple, non-surgical way to ease severe leg pain from a slipped disc.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small, early study with only 17 people, so results may not apply widely. Traction might not help, or could even worsen symptoms.
This is an AI summary of the original study and may miss details. Read our disclaimer.
Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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17 people
The number who actually took part.
- Start date
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Aug 2002
- Finished
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Sep 2006
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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18 to 99 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * less than 6-week lumbar sciatica secondary to disc herniation, confirmed by pain radiating down the leg along the distribution of the sciatic nerve together with positive straight leg raising test (SLRT) Exclusion Criteria: * symptoms persisting for more than 6 weeks * signs of clinical neurological deficit * lumbar sciatica not caused by disc herniation * presence of lumbar tomodensitometry abnormalities * Subjects younger than 18 * pregnant women * patients on medical leave for more than 3 weeks at inclusion * patients with history of lumbar surgery * patients who already had lumbar traction therapy
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Service de Médecine Physique et de Réadaptation, Hôpital de Hautepierre, Hôpitaux Universitaires
Strasbourg, 67098, France