Table 4 Comparisons of outcomes of WOMAC scales among groups at different time points and across four waves of times in individual groups

WOMAC-pain Baseline

5.9 ± 3.8

6.0 ± 3.2

−0.1^a (−1.5, 1.4)

0.909 ^t

1 month

3.3 ± 3.1

3.9 ± 2.8

− 0.6 (− 1.6, 0.4)

0.242

3 month

3.4 ± 3.5

3.2 ± 2.1

Fig. 2a (B > 8.5,Plus<Artz)

6 month

3.2 ± 3.2

3.9 ± 2.8

−0.6 (−1.6, 0.4)

0.260

P Value^c

(post hoc test)

< 0.001*

(B > 1 M; B > 3 M; B > 6 M)

< 0.001*

(B > 1 M;B > 3 M; B > 6 M)

0.599^a

WOMAC-stiffness Baseline

2.6 ± 1.7

2.3 ± 1.3

0.2^a (−0.4, 0.9)

0.424^t

1 month

1.5 ± 1.4

1.6 ± 1.1

−0.3 (− 0.7, 0.2)

0.307

3 month

1.5 ± 1.6

1.3 ± 1.1

0.05 (−0.4, 0.5)

0.823

6 month

1.3 ± 1.4

1.8 ± 1.1

−0.6 (− 0.1, −1.0)

0.020*

P Value^c (post hoc test)

< 0.001* (B > 1 M; B > 3 M; B > 6 M)

< 0.001*

(B > 1 M; B > 3 M)

WOMAC-function Baseline

19.7 ± 13.5

21.0 ± 11.9

−1.3^a (−6.4, 3.9)

0.634 ^t

1 month

11.5 ± 10.9

14.2 ± 9.2

−2.2 (−5.7, 1.3)

0.215

3 month

12.6 ± 12.4

10.7 ± 8.5

Fig. 2b

(B > 21.7, Plus<Artz)

6 month

11.8 ± 11.2

13.9 ± 11.2

−1.4 (−5.0, 2.2)

0.438

P Value^c (post hoc test)

< 0.001* (B > 1 M; B > 3 M;B > 6 M)

< 0.001* (B > 1 M; B > 3 M;B > 6 M;

1 M > 3 M)

WOMAC-total Baseline

28.2 ± 18.4

29.3 ± 15.6

−1.1^a (−8.1, 5.9)

0.757 ^t

1 month

16.2 ± 15.1

19.8 ± 12.3

−3.1 (−7.8, 1.7)

0.204

3 month

17.6 ± 16.9

15.3 ± 11.0

Fig. 2c

(B > 32.0, Plus<Artz)

6 month

16.4 ± 15.5

19.5 ± 14.6

−2.5 (−7.4, 2.3)

0.304

P Value^c (post hoc test)

< 0.001* (B > 1 M; B > 3 M; B > 6 M)

< 0.001* (B > 1 M; B > 3 M; B > 6 M; 1 M > 3 M;6 M > 3 M)