Table 2.
Mean change (95% confidence interval) from baseline values for outcome measures at week 2, at end of treatment (week 7), and 6 months later
| Outcome measure | Week 2 | End of therapy | 6 months’ follow up |
|---|---|---|---|
| Subjective symptoms | |||
| Mean change in main complaints (cm)*: | |||
| Sham | 0.05 (−0.48 to 0.58) | −0.17 (−0.92 to 0.57) | −0.08 (−1.06 to 0.90) |
| Active | −1.05 (−1.91 to −0.19) | −2.14 (−3.15 to −1.12) | −2.76 (−3.79 to −1.73) |
| Paired difference (t test) | 1.1 (0.23 to 1.98) | 1.96 (0.91 to 3.01) | 2.26 (1.49 to 3.88) |
| P value (2 tailed) | 0.015 | 0.001 | <0.0005 |
| Mean change in worst complaints (cm)*: | |||
| Sham | −0.90 (−2.24 to 0.43) | −1.56 (−2.58 to −0.54) | −0.95 (−2.43 to 0.54) |
| Active | −2.20 (−3.16 to −1.25) | −3.91 (−5.07 to −2.75) | −4.78 (−5.85 to −3.70) |
| Paired difference (t test) | 1.30 (−0.38 to 2.98) | 2.35 (0.92 to 3.78) | 3.83 (2.32 to 5.34) |
| P value (2 tailed) | 0.125 | 0.002 | <0.0005 |
| Mean change in sensory loss (cm)*: | |||
| Sham | 0.42 (−0.29 to 1.13) | −0.07 (−0.86 to 0.72) | −0.08 (−0.91 to 0.76) |
| Active | −0.82 (−1.69 to 0.05) | −1.14 (−1.99 to −0.29) | −1.60 (−2.55 to −0.65) |
| Paired difference (t test) | 1.24 (0.33 to 2.15) | 1.07 (0.31 to 1.83) | 1.53 (0.85 to 2.20) |
| P value (2 tailed) | 0.009 | 0.007 | <0.0005 |
| Physical functioning | |||
| Mean change in hand grip strength (kg): | |||
| Sham | −0.61 (−1.88 to 0.66) | −0.09 (−2.04 to 1.85) | −1.99 (−4.08 to 0.09) |
| Active | 0.71 (−1.35 to 2.77) | 3.87 (2.06 to 5.67) | 5.44 (2.91 to 7.96) |
| Paired difference (t test) | −1.32 (0.35 to −2.99) | −3.96 (−2.01 to −5.90) | −7.43 (−5.22 to −9.64) |
| P value (2 tailed) | 0.118 | <0.0005 | <0.0005 |
| Mean change in pinch strength (kg): | |||
| Sham | −0.20 (−0.25 to −0.15) | 0.06 (−0.26 to 0.38) | −0.22 (−0.38 to −0.06) |
| Active | −0.01 (−0.13 to 0.12) | 0.33 (0.17 to 0.50) | 0.49 (0.28 to 0.70) |
| Paired difference (t test) | −0.19 (0.43 to −0.81) | −0.27 (0.37 to −0.91) | −0.71 (−0.15 to −1.27) |
| P value (2 tailed) | 0.537 | 0.392 | 0.014 |
| Electroneurography | |||
| Mean change in motor distal latency (ms): | |||
| Sham | 0.04 (−0.08 to 0.15) | 0.06 (−0.08 to 0.21) | 0.04 (−0.10 to 0.19) |
| Active | −0.23 (−0.37 to −0.10) | −0.55 (−0.71 to −0.39) | −0.31 (−0.45 to −0.18) |
| Paired difference (t test) | 0.27 (0.11 to 0.42) | 0.61 (0.43 to 0.79) | 0.36 (0.18 to 0.54) |
| P value (2 tailed) | 0.001 | <0.0005 | <0.0005 |
| Mean change in antidromic sensory nerve conduction velocity (m/s): | |||
| Sham | −0.84 (−1.07 to −0.62) | −0.89 (−1.11 to −0.66) | −0.27 (−0.51 to −0.03) |
| Active | 4.50 (4.34 to 4.66) | 7.35 (6.98 to 7.71) | 2.69 (2.39 to 2.99) |
| Paired difference (t test) | −5.34 (−3.58 to −7.11) | −8.23 (−6.22 to −10.24) | −2.96 (−1.66 to −4.66) |
| P value (2 tailed) | <0.0005 | p<0.0005 | 0.001 |
*
Distance along a coloured visual analogue scale, on which the patients indicated their assessment (white, 0=minimum complaint; red, 10=maximum complaint). See methods section for further details.