Accepted for/Published in: JMIR Research Protocols
Date Submitted: Oct 14, 2025
Date Accepted: Dec 8, 2025
Protocol of a randomized controlled trial to evaluate the efficacy of Marma therapy on pain in Lumbar Disc Herniation with Radiculopathy
ABSTRACT
Background:
Marma Therapy, a traditional Ayurvedic practice, involves precise stimulation of the Marma [vital points that regulate Prana (vital energy)] and alleviate musculoskeletal pain and dysfunction. While historical texts describe Marma’s role in pain relief, no randomized controlled trials (RCTs) have evaluated its efficacy and safety in LDH-related radiculopathy.
Objective:
So, this study is planned to explore the efficacy and safety of Marma therapy in a commonly occurring painful condition, namely radiculopathy due to lumbar disc herniation.
Methods:
The selected patients of lumbar disc herniation with radiculopathy are randomised into two groups by using a computer-generated random number sequence. The participants in Group 1, i.e. trial arm, are treated with Marma therapy for 4 weeks, and those in Group 2, i.e. control arm, with Physiotherapy for 4 weeks. All the participants in both groups are given an oral medicine, Trayodashanga Guggulu, an Ayurvedic formulation for 12 weeks
Results:
Marma therapy, if proven effective and safe in pain management, can improve the quality of life of patients with lumbar disc herniation.
Conclusions:
This protocol can be useful in designing large-scale studies to establish this non-invasive and safe treatment as an alternative modality for the management of neurological pain, like radiculopathy Clinical Trial: Registered with the Clinical Trial Registry of India [CTRI/2022/02/040491] on 22nd February 2022
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