Table 4.
Within-group changes from baseline (T0) to post-intervention time points (T1 and T2) in the Gua Sha and control groups.
| Outcomes | Group | T0 vs T1 | T0 vs T2 | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean difference (95% CI) | P-value | Mean difference (95% CI) | P-value | ||
| TLF thickness (mm) | GG | −0.388 (0.101–0.675) | 0.010 | 0.607 (0.199–1.015) | .005 |
| CG | 0.254 (−0.044 to 0.552) | 0.092 | 0.401 (−0.023 to 0.824) | .062 | |
| Skin temperature (℃) | GG | −1.075 (−1.453 to −0.697) | < 0.001 | −1.004 (−1.353 to −0.655) | <.001 |
| CG | 2.231 (−2.623 to −1.839) | < 0.001 | −2.642 (−3.005 to −2.28) | <.001 | |
| Tissue hardness (N/mm²) | GG | 2.715 (−0.401 to 5.831) | 0.085 | 7.062 (3.183–10.941) | .001 |
| CG | 7.393 (4.16–10.626) | < 0.001 | 13.958 (9.933–17.984) | <.001 | |
| PPT (kg/cm²) | GG | −0.031 (−0.672 to 0.61) | 0.92 | 1.141 (0.341–1.94) | .007 |
| CG | 0.387 (−0.278 to 1.052) | 0.242 | 0.992 (0.162–1.821) | .021 | |
| Lumbar flexibility (cm) | GG | −0.093 (−0.47 to 0.284) | 0.616 | −1.157 (−1.479 to −0.835) | <.001 |
| CG | −0.346 (−0.737 to 0.045) | 0.08 | −0.777 (−1.111 to −0.443) | <.001 | |
| VAS (score) | GG | 1.000 (0.647–1.353) | < 0.001 | 2.143 (1.779–2.507) | <.001 |
| CG | 0.769 (0.402–1.136) | < 0.001 | 1.462 (1.084–1.839) | <.001 | |
| ODI (score) | GG | 1.143 (0.754–1.532) | < 0.001 | 3.000 (2.406–3.594) | <.001 |
| CG | 0.692 (0.289–1.096) | 0.002 | 1.385 (0.769–2.001) | <.001 | |
CG = control group, CI = confidence interval, GG = Gua Sha group, ODI = Oswestry disability index, PPT = pressure pain threshold, T0 = measurement before the start of the experiment, T1 = data after the first intervention, T2 = data after the fourth intervention, TLF = thoracolumbar fascia, VAS = visual analog scale.
P < .05, statistical significance.