Table 4.
Change in outcome parameters after 4 weeks of treatment*.
| Treatment groups | |||||
| Parameter | Placebo (n = 45) | Diclofenac (n = 49) | EA (n = 46) | Combined (n = 46) | p-valuea |
| Number of paracetamol taken (tablets taken per week) | -5.16 (2.33) | -4.43 (1.90) | -7.89 (2.09) | -5.13 (2.06) | NS |
| 50 feet-walk time (sec) | -2.70 (0.52) | -3.52 (0.46) | -4.41 (0.70) | -4.13 (0.54) | NS |
| VAS | -22.86 (4.02) | -32.99 (3.94) | -48.24 (3.59) | -35.59 (2.74) | <0.05† |
| WOMAC | |||||
| Pain index | -3.31 (0.68) | -4.90 (0.53) | -5.65 (0.59) | -6.28 (0.77) | <0.05†† |
| Stiffness index | -1.47 (0.31) | -1.55 (0.27) | -2.24 (0.31) | -2.02 (0.28) | NS |
| Disability index | -12.33 (1.88) | -14.39 (1.77) | -19.17 (2.05) | -18.98 (1.92) | NS |
| Total score | -17.11 (2.73) | -20.84 (2.43) | -27.07 (2.78) | -27.28 (2.79) | NS |
| Lequesne's functional index | -3.82 (0.51) | -4.80 (0.61) | -6.44 (0.59) | -5.39 (0.52) | <0.05††† |
*Compared values of week 4 versus those of week 0 (run-in peroid), data represent mean (SEM). Statistic analysis: a = one-way ANOVA and Scheffe method. NS= no statistical significance. † = EA vs placebo and diclofenac group. †† = combined vs placebo group. ††† = EA vs placebo group.