Table 3 Mean difference between-group at 2, 6 and 12 months follow up (Adjusted analysis by GEE model)

Outcomes

MD^a (95%CI)

MD^a (95%CI)

MD^a (95%CI)

MD^a (95% CI)

MD^a (95% CI)

MD^a (95% CI)

 Pain T2

− 0.03(− 0.67,0.60)

0.46(− 0.18,1.10)

− 1.2(− 1.8,-0.54)^***

0.49(− 0.15,1.14)

− 1.15(− 1.80,-0.50)^***

−1.65(− 2.30,-0.99)^***

 T6

−0.01(− 0.65,0.62)

0.97 (0.32,1.61)^**

1.70 (1.05,2.35)^***

0.98 (0.33,1.63)^**

1.71 (1.06,2.37)^***

0.73 (0.07,1.38)^*

 T12

0.03(−0.60,0.66)

1.29 (0.65,1.94)^***

2.69 (2.04,3.33)^***

1.26 (0.62,1.91)^***

2.66 (2.0,3.31)^***

1.39 (0.73,2.04)^***

 Stiff T2

0.09(− 0.32,0.50)

−0.20(− 0.62,0.21)

0.11(− 0.30,0.54)

− 0.29(− 0.72,0.12)

0.02(− 0.40,0.45)

0.32 (− 0.10,0.75)

 T6

0.06(− 0.34,0.48)

−0.01(− 0.43,0.40)

0.74 (0.32,1.17)^***

−0.08(− 0.50,0.34)

0.67 (0.25,1.10)^**

0.75 (0.32,1.18)^***

 T12

− 1.0(− 1.3,-0.7)

− 0.96(− 1.3,-0.6)

−0.8(− 1.1,-0.6)^***

0.08(− 0.34,0.50)

0.77 (0.34,1.19)^***

0.69 (0.25,1.12)^**

 Fun T2

0.09(− 0.32,0.50)

−0.20(− 0.62,0.21)

0.11(− 0.30,0.53)

−0.06(− 2.11,1.99)

−4.44(− 6.51,-2.38)^***

−4.38(− 6.47,-2.30)^***

 T6

0.07(− 0.34,0.40)

− 0.01(− 0.43,0.40)

0.74 (0.32,1.17)^***

2.32 (0.26,4.37)^*

5.13 (3.07,7.20)^***

2.81 (0.73,4.90)^**

 T12

0.04(− 0.37,0.45)

0.12(− 0.29,0.54)

0.81 (0.38,1.23)^***

4.73 (2.67,6.78)^***

6.09 (4.02,8.15)^***

1.35(− 0.72,3.44)

 Total T2

− 0.31(− 2.94,2.30)

0.88(− 1.76,3.53)

− 5.89(− 8.56,-3.23)^***

1.20(− 1.46,3.86)

− 5.5(− 8.25,-2.90)^***

−6.77(− 9.48,-4.07)^***

 T6

−0.41(− 3.03,2.20)

4.30 (1.65,6.95)^***

7.12 (4.46,9.78)^***

4.71 (2.05,7.37)^***

7.53 (4.86,10.21)^***

2.81 (0.11,5.52)^*

 T12

−0.40(−3.02,2.21)

7.09 (4.44,9.73)^***

9.12 (6.46,11.78)^***

7.49 (4.83,10.15)^***

9.52 (6.85,12.20)^***

2.03(− 0.66,4.73)

 Pain T2

0.05(− 0.39,0.50)

− 0.55(− 1.0,-0.09)^*

− 1.15(− 1.61,-0.69)^***

−0.60(− 1.06,-0.14)^**

−1.20(− 1.66,-0.74)^***

−0.60(− 1.06,-0.13)^*

 T6

0.06(− 0.38,0.51)

0.15(− 0.29,0.61)

0.39(− 0.06,0.85)

0.09(− 0.36,0.55)

0.33(− 0.12,0.78)

0.23(− 0.22,0.70)

 T12

0.09(− 0.36,0.53)

0.44(− 0.01,0.89)

0.96 (0.50,1.41)^***

0.35(− 0.10,0.80)

0.87 (0.41,1.33)^***

0.52 (0.06,0.98)

Walk T2

0.03 (− 0.2,0.26)

− 0.04(− 0.28,0.18)

0.15(− 0.09,0.38)

− 0.07(− 0.31,0.15)

0.11(− 0.11,0.35)

0.19(− 0.02,0.43)

 T6

−0.01(− 0.23,0.22)

− 0.04(− 0.27,0.19)

0.20(− 0.03,0.43)

− 0.03(− 0.27,0.20)

0.20(− 0.03,0.44)

0.24 (0.01,0.48)^*

 T12

0.07(− 0.15,0.30)

0.08(− 0.14,0.32)

0.18(− 0.04,0.42)

0.01(− 0.22,0.24)

0.11(− 0.12,0.35)

0.10(− 0.14,0.34)

ADL T2

0.11(− 0.22,0.44)

− 0.01(− 0.34,0.32)

−0.29(− 0.62,0.04)

−0.12(− 0.45,0.21)

−0.40(− 0.73,-0.06)^*

−0.27(− 0.61,0.06)

 T6

0.03(− 0.29,0.36)

0.80 (0.46,1.13)^***

1.02 (0.68,1.36)^***

0.76 (0.43,1.10)^***

0.98 (0.65,1.32)^***

0.22(−0.12,0.56)

 T12

0.05(−0.27,0.38)

0.65 (0.32,0.99)^***

0.78 (0.44,1.11)^***

0.59 (0.26,0.93)^***

0.72 (0.38,1.06)^***

0.12(−0.21,0.46)

Total T2

0.12(−0.59,0.84)

− 0.24(− 0.97,0.47)

− 1.29(− 2.02,-0.56)^***

−0.36(− 1.09,0.35)

−1.42(− 2.15,-0.68)^***

−1.05(− 1.79,-0.31)^**

 T6

0.07(− 0.64,0.78)

1.37 (0.65,2.10)^***

1.61 (0.88,2.34)^***

1.30 (0.57,2.03)^***

1.54 (0.81,2.27)^***

0.24(− 0.49,0.98)

 T12

0.25(− 0.45,0.97)

1.63 (0.90,2.35)^***

1.93 (1.20,2.65)^***

1.37 (0.64,2.10)^***

1.67 (0.93,2.40)^***

0.29(−0.44,1.03)

 T2

0.05 (−0.45,0.56)

−0.05 (− 0.56,0.45)

−0.72 (−1.24,-0.24)^**

−0.11(− 0.62,0.40)

−0.78(− 1.30,-0.26)^**

−0.67 (− 1.2,-0.14)

 T6

0.04(− 0.46,0.55)

0.31(− 0.20,0.82)

0.57 (0.06,1.09) ⁸

−.26(− 0.25,0.77)

0.52 (0.01,1.04)^*

0.26(− 0.25,0.78)

 T12

−0.02(− 0.53,0.48)

0.75 (0.23,1.26)^**

2.05 (1.53,2.56)^***

0.77 (0.26,1.29)^**

2.07 (1.56,2.59)^***

1.29 (0.77,1.82)^***