The results of group effect on primary and secondary outcomes at 6-weeks post-intervention using intention to treat and analysis of covariance
| Outcome variables | NM exercise group, n= 36, mean (SD) | CG, n= 36, mean (SD) | Model 1a | Model 2b | |||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean difference between groups (95% CI) | P-value | Cohen’s d | Mean difference between groups (95% CI) | P-value | Cohen’s d | ||||
| Primary outcome BPI (severity) | |||||||||
| Wk 0 | 4.4 (1.5) | 4.6 (1.7) | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Wk 6 | 3.1 (2.1) | 4.6 (1.9) | −1.31 (−2.08 to −0.54) | <0.01 | 0.66 | −1.27 (−2.08 to −0.45) | <0.01 | 0.63 | |
| Secondary outcomes BPI (interference) | |||||||||
| Wk 0 | 3.4 (2.3) | 4.4 (2.0) | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Wk 6 | 2.5 (2.3) | 4.0 (2.2) | −0.74 (−1.51 to 0.02) | 0.06 | 0.35 | −0.67 (−1.48 to 0.15) | 0.11 | 0.29 | |
| PSEQ | |||||||||
| Wk 0 | 41.3 (10.8) | 42.0 (10.1) | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Wk 6 | 45.1 (9.2) | 38.6 (10.7) | 6.87 (2.84 to 10.89) | <0.01 | 0.70 | 6.50 (2.22 to 10.77) | <0.01 | 0.63 | |
| SF-12 | |||||||||
| Physical | Wk 0 | 46.8 (6.7) | 44.5 (6.2) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wk 6 | 48.0 (8.3) | 43.4 (7.1) | 3.15 (−0.01 to 6.31) | 0.05 | 0.41 | 3.4 (0.05 to 6.75) | <0.05 | 0.46 | |
| Mental | Wk 0 | 45.1 (11.1) | 43.0 (7.7) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wk 6 | 48.9 (9.7) | 44.8 (10.1) | 2.90 (−0.98 to 6.78) | 0.14 | 0.29 | 3.07 (−1.08 to 7.23) | 0.15 | 0.29 | |
| TUGT | |||||||||
| Wk 0 | 12.7 (3.9) | 13.0 (3.8) | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Wk 6 | 11.3 (2.9) | 12.4 (2.7) | −0.98 (−2.16 to 0.21) | 0.10 | 0.41 | −1.01 (−2.25 to 0.23) | 0.11 | 0.41 | |
| HGS | |||||||||
| Left | Wk 0 | 17.7 (4.0) | 18.3 (5.1) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wk 6 | 19.7 (6.0) | 18.7 (5.5) | 1.41 (−0.77 to 3.60) | 0.20 | 0.29 | 1.40 (−0.95 to 3.74) | 0.24 | 0.35 | |
| Right | Wk 0 | 18.7 (4.1) | 18.9 (5.5) | — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Wk 6 | 19.8 (5.0) | 19.7 (5.1) | 0.19 (−1.65 to 2.02) | 0.63 | 0.11 | 0.15 (−1.90 to 2.21) | 0.57 | 0.14 | |
| GAD-7 | |||||||||
| Wk 0 | 3.5 (4.9) | 3.3 (3.1) | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Wk 6 | 5.3 (9.6) | 4.9 (3.5) | 0.08 (−2.79 to 2.94) | 0.85 | 0.06 | 0.11 (−2.94 to 3.16) | 0.86 | 0.06 | |
| PHQ-9 | |||||||||
| Wk 0 | 4.8 (4.2) | 5.0 (2.7) | — | — | — | — | — | — | |
| Wk 6 | 4.5 (4.01) | 6.0 (3.5) | −1.34 (−2.89 to 0.21) | 0.10 | 0.35 | −1.11 (−2.76 to 0.54) | 0.20 | 0.29 | |
↵a Adjusting for baseline score.
↵b Adjusting for baseline score, sex, and BMI. Bold data indicates statistically significant. BPI = Brief Pain Inventory. CG = control group. CI= confidence interval. GAD-7 = 7-item Generalised Anxiety Disorder. HGS = handgrip strength. ITT = intention to treat. NM = neuromuscular. PHQ-9 = 9-item Patient Health Questionnaire. PSEQ = Pain Self-Efficacy Questionnaire. SD = standard deviation. SF-12 = 12-Item Short Form Health Survey. TUGT = Timed-Up-and-Go test. Wk = week.