Table 3.

Criteria for evaluation of efficacy of TCM syndromes

Curative effect	Evaluation standard
Got well	Symptoms such as waist and back pain are basically completely relieved, waist and knee soreness, lower limb cramps, difficulty in walking, and weight-bearing functions return to normal, and the syndrome score improvement rate is ≥95%.
Effective	Symptoms such as pain in the lower back were significantly relieved, soreness of the waist and knees, cramps in the lower limbs, difficulty in walking, and weight-bearing functions returned to normal, and the syndrome score improvement rate was ≥70%, <95%.
Efficient	Symptoms such as waist and back pain were mildly relieved, waist and knee soreness, lower limb cramps, difficulty in walking, and the ability to maintain balance were partially restored, and the syndrome score improvement rate was ≥30% and <70%.
Invalid	The clinical symptoms and waist and lower limb functions did not improve compared with before and after treatment, and the syndrome score improvement rate was <30%.