Objective To investigate the effect of limiting early ground motion after percutaneous transforaminal endoscopic discectomy (PTED) for lumbar disc herniation (LDH) with different MSU grades.Methods In this study, a retrospective cohort study was used. 162 patients who received PTED treatment for LDH from January 2018 to December 2020 were selected. The patients were divided into two groups: early ambulation restriction group and ambulation non-restriction group. Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) were used to evaluate the clinical efficacy on the day, 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after surgery.Results Six months and one year after operation, the VAS score of low back pain in the restricted group was lower than that in the non-restricted group, and there was a statistical difference between the two groups (P＜0.05). One year after operation, the VAS score of leg pain in the restricted group was lower than that in the non-restricted group, and there was a statistical difference between the two groups (P＜0.05). At 3 months, 6 months and 1 year after operation, the ODI score of the restricted group was lower than that of the non-restricted group, and there was a statistical difference between the two groups (P＜0.05). One year after operation, the excellent and good rate of the limited group was significantly higher than that of the non-restricted group. Further analysis of MSU grading and stratification showed that when MSU grading was 2, the efficacy of the restricted group was better than that of the non-restricted group.Conclusion Limiting early ambulation of LDH patients after PTED, especially those patients with MSU grade 2, can reduce their postoperative lumbar and leg pain and improve their living function