Intravascular Laser and Electroacupuncture for Sciatica With Insomnia: A Pilot Trial

Summary

Sciatica is a common condition worldwide, with prevalence rates ranging from 1.2% to 43%. Chronic sciatica is often associated with sleep disturbances, forming a bidirectional loop where persistent nociceptive input disrupts sleep continuity, and sleep deprivation amplifies mechanical pain sensitivity. According to institutional records, sciatica accounts for approximately 26% of hospital admissions for musculoskeletal disorders at regional rehabilitation centers. Current pharmacological options for sleep fragmentation provide limited benefits and carry risks of tolerance or dependence, making integrative, non-pharmacologic frameworks important.

Intravascular laser irradiation of blood (ILIB), or intravascular photobiomodulation, is a minimally invasive therapy delivering low-level red laser light (630 nm) into the venous circulation to downregulate systemic inflammation and improve microcirculation. This randomized controlled pilot study evaluates the operational feasibility and preliminary clinical trends of combining ILIB with standardized electroacupuncture. Sixty-six participants are randomly assigned to two parallel arms: a control group receiving electroacupuncture alone (n = 33) and an intervention group receiving combined ILIB and electroacupuncture (n = 33). Active treatment is administered daily for 10 sessions over 2 consecutive weeks. Clinical and behavioral parameters are tracked via the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Visual Analog Scale (VAS) for pain, Oswestry Disability Index (ODI), Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS), and patient medication diaries at baseline, Day 7, Day 15, and an exploratory post-treatment follow-up on Day 22.

Conditions

• Sleep Disorders
• Sciatica

Interventions

PROCEDURE

Electroacupuncture

Electroacupuncture is performed using sterile disposable acupuncture needles (0.30 × 25 mm) connected to an electroacupuncture stimulator (KWD808-1, Gujin Greatwall, China). Stimulation is applied at a frequency of 60 Hz for 20 minutes per session. Treatment is performed once daily for 10 consecutive days. Acupuncture points include Jiaji (L3-S1), Dachangshu (BL25), Huantiao (GB30), Yinmen (BL37), Yanglingquan (GB34), Chengfu (BL36), Chengshan (BL57), and Kunlun (BL60).

DEVICE

Intravascular Low-Level Laser Therapy (ILIB)

Intravascular laser irradiation of blood (ILIB) is administered using a helium-neon laser device (Mini-630, 635 nm wavelength) manufactured by the Vietnam Laser Technology Center. A sterile optical fiber is inserted into a peripheral vein via a standard intravenous needle. The laser is connected to the fiber to deliver continuous photobiomodulation for 30 minutes per session, 5 sessions per week, for 2 consecutive weeks (10 sessions total). This device is used only in the experimental group in combination with electroacupuncture.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Binh Dinh Hospital of Traditional Medicine and Rehabilitation

  collaborator UNKNOWN

• Le Hoang Minh Quan

  lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2025-04-01

Primary Completion

2025-12-01

Completion

2025-12-01

Countries

• Vietnam

Study Locations