Objective To assess the efficacy of sling exercise training（SET） for athletes with lumbar disc herniation（LDH）.Methods A total of 46 athletes diagnosed with LDH who were treated in a Guangzhou hospital during the period from June 2017 to June 2018 were included in this study.Based on the use of a random number table

these athletes were randomized to receive SET plus routine treatment（trial group

n = 22） or routine treatment alone（control group

n= 24）.After 4 weeks of treatment

the Oswestry Disability Index（ODI）

Visual Analogue Scale（VAS）

and surface electromyography（s EMG） in the sacrospinal muscle were measured in both groups.Results Before treatment

the mean amplitude（AEMG） in the weak link of the sacrospinal muscle was significantly lower than that of the healthy side in both groups（P< 0.05）.After treatment

the ODI

VAS score

and the AEMG in the weak link of the sacrospinal muscle were significantly improved in both groups（P < 0.05）.Meanwhile

significantly greater improvements in the ODI

VAS score

and the AEMG in the weak link of the sacrospinal muscle were observed in the trial group as compared with the control group（P<0.05）.Conclusion SET has favorable efficacy for athletes with LDH

which may relieve patients’ sufferings and help to restore lumbar functions.