BACKGROUND:Intensity-time (I/T) curve examination is a monitoring technology used for diagnosis of nerve damage,muscle disease and prognostic evaluation using current stimulation and qualitative or quantitative analysis.It also has significance to the diagnosis of lumbar disc herniation (LDH).Whether it can be used in LDH prognostic evaluation is poorly understood.OBJECTIVE:To explore the effectiveness of I/T curve in diagnosis and prognostic evaluation of LDH.METHODS:I/T curves of 113 LDH patients were measured by CX-3 electrodiagnostic equipment,and the results were compared with their unaffected sides and analyzed after physiotherapy.A total of 253 curves were measured,including 107 biceps femoris,101 gastrocnemius and 45 tibialis anterior muscle curves.All patients were sequential treated by traction,medium frequency,ultrashort wave,electric acupuncture as well as infrared radiation following I/T diagnosis,once a day,10 days for a course,with 10 days interval in 3 courses,I/T curves were performed after 3 courses.The therapeutic effect was evaluated by using I/T results combined with clinical symptom and physical signs.RESULTS AND CONCLUSION:The first estimated percentage by I/T curved line were 36.36% (controlled by normal nerve),62.85% (controlled by part of the denervated),0.79% (controlled by the completely denervated) and 63.64% (controlled by total abnormal nerve).After the physiotherapy,the effectiveness of the complete recovery was 92.86% by the normal nerve as well as 58.82% by the abnormal nerve.Above all,the practical value could be concluded from the diagnosis,evaluation and effectiveness of LDH used by I/T curve line.The therapeutic effectiveness controlled by the normal nerve is much better than that controlled by the abnormal.