[Conservative therapy for lumbar disc herniation]

Herniated discs are a common cause of neurological symptoms that often lead to reduced quality of life. They affect around 20% of 45-56-year olds and, therefore, represent a correspondingly major challenge for healthcare. Conservative therapy methods are usually used as the first treatment option; surgical interventions should only be considered in special symptom constellations.

This study aims to evaluate the effectiveness of conservative therapy methods in the treatment of lumbar disc herniation and to demonstrate their influence on pain reduction and functional improvement.

The current valid AWMF guideline was analyzed, and a systematic literature search was conducted to identify relevant information on the conservative treatment of herniated discs. The therapeutic approaches analyzed included physiotherapy, drug treatment, manual therapy and injection therapies. Inclusion criteria covered reviews and meta-analyses from 2019 to 2024.

The analysis showed that conservative treatment methods led to a significant reduction in pain and improvement in functional abilities in the majority of patients. Not all frequently clinical used forms of therapy have been well proven.

The results of this study underline the importance of conservative treatment methods as an effective treatment option for herniated discs. In particular, the combination of different treatment approaches can improve treatment outcomes. However, further long-term studies are needed to determine the long-term effects and optimal treatment protocols.