Efficacy of side lying traction versus supine lying traction in treatment of lumbar disc herniation: A randomized controlled trial

Objective: To investigate the effect of side lying lumbar traction and Supine lumbar traction in treatment of Lumbar disc herniation (LDH). Design: Two Experimental design Pretest – Posttest control group. Subjects: Forty-seven patients of LDH with unilateral sciatica randomly assigned into side lying traction group, supine lying traction group, and control group. Intervention: control group received conventional physical therapy (hot pack- lumbar strengthening exercise and stretching exercise). Side lying group received side lying traction beside conventional physical therapy and supine lying traction group received supine lying traction beside conventional physical therapy. The treatment was 3 sessions per week for 12 weeks. Outcome measurement: The patients were evaluated by Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) for (back – leg) pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), H reflex Latency, L4/L5, L5/S1 herniated disc index.  The evaluation was before and after intervention. Results: There was statistically significant difference for side lying traction in VAS (back-leg), ODI score and L5/S1 disc index after 12 weeks of treatment (p > 0.05). There was statistically significant difference for both traction groups in L4/L5 disc index. There wasn’t statistically significant among three groups in H reflex latency.&nbsp