Table 2 Changes in VAS, FROM, TG, VMO Thickness, 6MWT, TUG and WOMAC (total and subscales) between the groups

VAS (0–10)

 pre-intervention

5.10(1.37)

5.17(1.01)

5.47(1.32)

0.615^c

 post-intervention

3.18(1.04)

3.66(0.97)

2.94(1.34)

0.226^c

 after 12 weeks

1.78(0.89)

2.84(0.80)

1.93(1.27)

0.022^a

 P value

< 0.0001^e

< 0.0001^e

< 0.0001^e

FROM (degree)

 pre-intervention

115.26(3.09)

110.32(3.27)

120.51(4.22)

0.79^g

 post-intervention

117.13(2.02)

110.50(2.59)

123.35(3.81)

< 0.0001^b

 after 12 weeks

118.60(2.59)

112.26(2.14)

128.50(2.25)

< 0.0001^b

 P value

< 0.0001^d

0.397^f

< 0.0001^d

TG (cm)

 pre-intervention

49.31(2.23)

48.22(2.63)

50.25(2.43)

0.316^g

 post-intervention

50.45(2.95)

47.55(2.95)

52.80(1.95)

< 0.004^b

 after 12 weeks

52.15(2.26)

48.35(2.26)

54.25(2.16)

< 0.0001^b

 P value

< 0.0001^d

0.023^d

< 0.0001^d

VMO Thickness (mm)

 pre-intervention

16.01(0.43)

15.60(0.73)

15.01(0.63)

0.361^g

 post-intervention

17.22(0.59)

15.72(0.39)

16.42(0.19)

 < 0.003^b

 after 12 weeks

17.71(0.62)

15.81(0.56)

18.17(0.32)

 < 0.0001^b

 P value

< 0.0001^d

0.076^f

< 0.0001^d

TUG (second)

 pre-intervention

9.71(0.68)

9.98(0.65)

9.87(0.58)

0.603^c

 post-intervention

8.60(0.70)

9.42(0.26)

8.91(0.23)

 < 0.0001^a

 after 12 weeks

7.72(0.63)

9.01(0.31)

8.22(0.65)

 < 0.0001^a

 P value

< 0.0001^e

< 0.0001^e

< 0.0001^e

6MWT(m)

 pre-intervention

442.36(47.14)

437.64(51.50)

432.65(54.41)

0.842^c

 post-intervention

523.19(59.05)

470.60(59.38)

511.53(45.21)

0.038^a

 after 12 weeks

548.93(36.65)

493.23(62.30)

526.20(47.70)

0.029^a

 P value

< 0.0001^e

< 0.0001^e

< 0.0001^e

WOMAC pain subscale

 pre-intervention

9.20(0.78)

9.73(0.18)

9.34(0.64)

0.688^g

 post-intervention

6.13(0.68)

6.43(0.65)

6.24(0.71)

0.061^g

 after 12 weeks

5.16(0.96)

6.56(0.98)

3.98(0.51)

 P value

< 0.0001^f

< 0.0001^f

< 0.0001^f

0.003^b

WOMAC stiffness subscale

 pre-intervention

3.84(1.17)

3.82(0.81)

3.81(0.98)

0.097^c

 post-intervention

2.94(0.85)

2.87(0.52)

2.47(0.87)

< 0.0001^a

 after 12 weeks

1.93(0.97)

2.03(0.97)

1.40(1.05)

< 0.0001^a

 P value

< 0.0001^e

< 0.0001^e

< 0.0001^e

WOMAC function subscale

 pre-intervention

33.98(2.93)

34.86(2.96)

35.25(2.57)

0.646^g

 post-intervention

27.46(2.49)

28.50(2.87)

28.32(1.92)

0.231^g

 after 12 weeks

21.43(1.32)

21.56(1.29)

22.13(1.75)

0.017^b

 P value

< 0.0001^f

< 0.0001^f

< 0.0001^f

WOMAC total score

 pre-intervention

45.96(3.32)

48.46(3.60)

46.87(4.04)

0.720^g

 post-intervention

37.53(4.12)

39.48(2.16)

38.67(3.27)

0.071^g

 after 12 weeks

26.96(1.84)

29.26(2.20)

27.73(2.98)

0.007^b

 P value

< 0.0001^f

< 0.0001^f

< 0.0001^f