Fig. 1.

Course of the mean 36-Item Short-Form Survey physical functioning domain (SF36 PF) over the study period. The duration of IA therapy is indicated by the green bar. A higher score indicates less restriction in physical functioning. Error bars represent 95% confidence intervals. Data were analyzed using a linear mixed-effects model fitted by restricted maximum likelihood (REML), with t-tests computed using Satterthwaite's method for degrees of freedom with significance levels indicated as ∗p < 0.05, ∗∗p < 0.01, ∗∗∗p < 0.001. From top to bottom, the panels display the trajectories of the SF36 PF for: a) the whole cohort (n = 20), b) responders to the treatment defined by a ≥ ten-point increase in the SF36 PF at month 1 post IA (n = 14), and c) non-responders to the treatment defined by a ≤ ten-point increase in the SF36 PF at month 1 post IA (n = 7).