Table 3.
Between group differences in primary and secondary outcomes at all weeks*
| Variables | Aerobic exercise v tai chi groups combined | Tai chi: 12 v 24 weeks | Tai chi: once v twice weekly | Aerobic exercise 2×24 weeks v tai chi 2×24 weeks | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mean (95% CI) | P value | Mean (95% CI) | P value | Mean (95% CI) | P value | Mean (95% CI) | P value | ||||
| FIQR score (range 0-100)†: | |||||||||||
| Week 12 | 5.4 (0.6 to 10.1) | 0.03 | −2.7 (−9.4 to 4.1) | 0.44 | 3.4 (−3.3 to 10.1) | 0.32 | 10.9 (3.4 to 18.5) | 0.005 | |||
| Week 24 | 5.5 (0.6 to 10.4) | 0.03 | 9.6 (2.6 to 16.6) | 0.007 | 4.5 (−2.5 to 11.4) | 0.21 | 16.2 (8.7 to 23.6) | <0.001 | |||
| Week 52 | 2.7 (−2.3 to 7.7) | 0.29 | 5.8 (−1.4 to 13.0) | 0.11 | 2.7 (−4.5 to 9.9) | 0.46 | 11.1 (2.7 to 19.6) | 0.01 | |||
| Symptom severity scale score (range 0-12)†: | |||||||||||
| Week 12 | 0.5 (−0.1 to 1.0) | 0.11 | −0.2 (−0.9 to 0.6) | 0.70 | 0.5 (−0.3 to 1.3) | 0.20 | 0.6 (−0.3 to 1.5) | 0.17 | |||
| Week 24 | 0.5 (−0.1 to 1.1) | 0.07 | 0.5 (−0.4 to 1.3) | 0.29 | 0.7 (−0.2 to 1.5) | 0.12 | 0.9 (−0.1 to 1.9) | 0.09 | |||
| Week 52 | 0.5 (−0.2 to 1.1) | 0.14 | −0.1 (−1.1 to 0.8) | 0.80 | 1.0 (−0.0 to 1.9) | 0.047 | 0.7 (−0.3 to 1.8) | 0.18 | |||
| Patient’s global assessment score (range 0-10)†: | |||||||||||
| Week 12 | 0.6 (0.1 to 1.2) | 0.03 | −0.6 (−1.4 to 0.2) | 0.12 | −0.2 (−1.0 to 0.6) | 0.54 | 0.3 (−0.6 to 1.1) | 0.57 | |||
| Week 24 | 0.9 (0.3 to 1.4) | 0.005 | 0.7 (−0.2 to 1.5) | 0.12 | 0.4 (−0.4 to 1.2) | 0.35 | 1.6 (0.7 to 2.5) | 0.0006 | |||
| Week 52 | 0.8 (0.2 to 1.4) | 0.01 | 0.6 (−0.3 to 1.5) | 0.17 | 0.5 (−0.4 to 1.4) | 0.30 | 1.5 (0.4 to 2.5) | 0.008 | |||
| HADS scores (subscale range 0-21)†: | |||||||||||
| Depression: | |||||||||||
| Week 12 | 0.6 (−0.2 to 1.4) | 0.12 | 0.1 (−1.0 to 1.2) | 0.90 | 0.5 (−0.6 to 1.5) | 0.41 | 1.1 (−0.1 to 2.4) | 0.07 | |||
| Week 24 | 0.7 (−0.3 to 1.6) | 0.16 | 1.4 (0.1 to 2.6) | 0.04 | 0.7 (−0.6 to 1.9) | 0.31 | 2.1 (0.5 to 3.7) | 0.01 | |||
| Week 52 | 0.8 (−0.1 to 1.8) | 0.09 | −0.3 (−1.7 to 1.2) | 0.71 | 0.5 (−0.9 to 2.0) | 0.46 | 1.6 (0.0 to 3.2) | 0.05 | |||
| Anxiety: | |||||||||||
| Week 12 | 1.2 (0.4 to 2.0) | 0.003 | 0.0 (−1.0 to 1.1) | 0.93 | −0.2 (−1.3 to 0.9) | 0.76 | 1.7 (0.3 to 3.1) | 0.02 | |||
| Week 24 | 1.2 (0.3 to 2.1) | 0.006 | 0.4 (−0.8 to 1.6) | 0.55 | −0.2 (−1.4 to 1.0) | 0.74 | 2.1 (0.6 to 3.6) | 0.008 | |||
| Week 52 | 1.3 (0.3 to 2.2) | 0.009 | −0.6 (−2.0 to 0.8) | 0.41 | 0.3 (−1.1 to 1.7) | 0.67 | 1.6 (0.1 to 3.1) | 0.04 | |||
| Beck depression inventory II score (range 0-63)†: | |||||||||||
| Week 12 | 1.4 (−1.1 to 3.9) | 0.28 | −0.4 (−4.0 to 3.2) | 0.84 | 1.8 (−1.8 to 5.4) | 0.34 | 3.3 (−0.9 to 7.5) | 0.12 | |||
| Week 24 | 0.9 (−1.6 to 3.3) | 0.49 | 4.4 (0.9 to 7.9) | 0.01 | 1.2 (−2.3 to 4.7) | 0.49 | 4.3 (0.0 to 8.5) | 0.049 | |||
| Week 52 | 1.2 (−1.6 to 4.1) | 0.40 | 0.6 (−3.5 to 4.8) | 0.76 | 2.8 (−1.3 to 6.9) | 0.18 | 4.6 (−0.5 to 9.7) | 0.08 | |||
| Coping strategies score (range 0-36)‡: | |||||||||||
| Week 12 | 2.3 (0.6 to 4.0) | 0.009 | 0.8 (−1.7 to 3.2) | 0.54 | 1.6 (−0.8 to 4.0) | 0.20 | 4.8 (1.7 to 8.0) | 0.003 | |||
| Week 24 | 2.6 (0.8 to 4.3) | 0.005 | 0.9 (−1.6 to 3.4) | 0.46 | 1.1 (−1.4 to 3.6) | 0.38 | 5.4 (2.1 to 8.9) | 0.002 | |||
| Week 52 | 2.8 (1.0 to 4.7) | 0.003 | 0.9 (−1.8 to 3.6) | 0.50 | 0.9 (−1.8 to 3.6) | 0.50 | 4.9 (1.4 to 8.3) | 0.006 | |||
| MOS social support survey score (range 0-5)‡: | |||||||||||
| Week 12 | 0.0 (−0.1. to 0.2) | 0.65 | −0.2 (−0.5 to 0.0) | 0.09 | 0.1 (−0.2 to 0.3) | 0.56 | −0.1 (−0.4 to 0.2) | 0.41 | |||
| Week 24 | 0.0 (−0.2 to 0.2) | 0.99 | −0.1 (−0.3 to 0.2) | 0.73 | 0.1 (−0.2 to 0.4) | 0.40 | 0.0 (−0.4 to 0.3) | 0.81 | |||
| Week 52 | 0.0 (−0.2 to 0.2) | 0.96 | −0.1 (−0.4 to 0.3) | 0.63 | 0.1 (−0.3 to 0.4) | 0.77 | −0.2 (−0.6 to 0.1) | 0.24 | |||
| Arthritis self efficacy scale score (range 1-10)‡: | |||||||||||
| Week 12 | 0.8 (0.2 to 1.4) | 0.009 | −0.5 (−1.3 to 0.3) | 0.24 | 0.6 (−0.2 to 1.4) | 0.17 | 1.2 (0.2 to 2.1) | 0.02 | |||
| Week 24 | 1.0 (0.5 to 1.6) | 0.0004 | 0.5 (−0.3 to 1.3) | 0.23 | 0.1 (−0.7 to 0.9) | 0.73 | 1.5 (0.6 to 2.5) | 0.002 | |||
| Week 52 | 1.1 (0.5 to 1.7) | 0.0004 | −0.2 (−1.1 to 0.7) | 0.66 | 0.6 (−0.3 to 1.4) | 0.21 | 1.2 (0.2 to 2.2) | 0.02 | |||
| Pittsburgh sleep quality index score (range 0-21)†: | |||||||||||
| Week 12 | 0.1 (−0.7 to 0.9) | 0.78 | 0.0 (−1.1 to 1.2) | 0.99 | 0.6 (−0.6 to 1.7) | 0.34 | 0.6 (−0.8 to 2.1) | 0.37 | |||
| Week 24 | 0.3 (−0.6 to 1.3) | 0.49 | 1.0 (−0.4 to 2.3) | 0.16 | 0.3 (−1.0 to 1.7) | 0.62 | 1.0 (−0.6 to 2.5) | 0.22 | |||
| Week 52 | 0.6 (−0.4 to 1.7) | 0.24 | −0.9 (−2.5 to 0.6) | 0.24 | 0.3 (−1.2 to 1.9) | 0.70 | 0.9 (−0.7 to 2.5) | 0.26 | |||
| SF-36 scores (range 0-100)‡: | |||||||||||
| Mental component: | |||||||||||
| Week 12 | 2.4 (−0.2 to 5.0) | 0.07 | −0.4 (−4.0 to 3.3) | 0.84 | −0.3 (−4.0 to 3.3) | 0.86 | 3.2 (−0.6 to 6.9) | 0.10 | |||
| Week 24 | 2.5 (−0.1 to 5.0) | 0.06 | 4.4 (0.8 to 8.1) | 0.02 | −0.4 (−4.0 to 3.2) | 0.83 | 6.2 (1.9 to 10.6) | 0.006 | |||
| Week 52 | 1.7 (−1.3 to 4.7) | 0.27 | −1.0 (−5.4 to 3.4) | 0.66 | 0.9 (−3.5 to 5.3) | 0.68 | 2.2 (−2.7 to 7.1) | 0.38 | |||
| Physical component: | |||||||||||
| Week 12 | 1.1 (−0.6 to 2.9) | 0.21 | −1.3 (−3.7 to 1.2) | 0.31 | 0.7 (−1.8 to 3.1) | 0.60 | 1.4 (−1.4 to 4.2) | 0.32 | |||
| Week 24 | 0.3 (−1.7 to 2.2) | 0.79 | 2.4 (−0.3 to 5.1) | 0.09 | 1.2 (−1.5 to 3.9) | 0.38 | 2.0 (−1.3 to 5.3) | 0.24 | |||
| Week 52 | 2.0 (−0.1 to 4.2) | 0.06 | 2.0 (−1.1 to 5.1) | 0.20 | −1.2 (−4.3 to 1.9) | 0.45 | 3.0 (−0.7 to 6.8) | 0.11 | |||
| 6 minute walk test score (m): | |||||||||||
| Week 12 | 6.8 (−8.1 to 21.7) | 0.37 | −10.7 (−31.7 to 10.2) | 0.31 | 2.5 (−18.4 to 23.5) | 0.81 | −3.0 (−26.1 to 20.2) | 0.45 | |||
| Week 24 | 6.0 (−9.5 to 21.6) | 0.45 | −9.3 (−30.9 to 12.2) | 0.39 | −1.4 (−23.0 to 20.2) | 0.90 | −1.0 (−27.1 to 25.1) | 0.94 | |||
| Week 52 | 12.5 (−8.4 to 33.4) | 0.24 | 17.1 (−13.2 to 47.4) | 0.27 | −10.7 (−41.0 to 19.6) | 0.49 | 22.6 (−17.7 to 62.8) | 0.27 | |||
| Body mass index: | |||||||||||
| Week 12 | −0.1 (−0.4 to 0.2) | 0.68 | 0.1 (−0.4 to 0.5) | 0.78 | −0.1 (−0.5 to 0.4) | 0.81 | −0.2 (−0.8 to 0.4) | 0.80 | |||
| Week 24 | 0.0 (−0.4 to 0.3) | 0.89 | −0.1 (−0.6 to 0.5) | 0.82 | 0.1 (−0.4 to 0.6) | 0.78 | −0.2 (−0.9 to 0.6) | 0.93 | |||
| Week 52 | −0.4 (−1.0 to 0.2) | 0.25 | −0.2 (−1.0 to 0.7) | 0.69 | 0.1 (−0.7 to 1.0) | 0.79 | −0.8 (−2.2 to 0.5) | 0.23 | |||
| Improved HAQ score (range 0-100)†: | |||||||||||
| Week 12 | 2.1 (−1.1 to 5.2) | 0.20 | −2.2 (−6.6 to 2.2) | 0.33 | 6.6 (2.2 to 11.0) | 0.004 | 4.5 (−1.5 to 10.5) | 0.14 | |||
| Week 24 | −0.1 (−3.7 to 3.5) | 0.94 | 2.2 (−2.9 to 7.3) | 0.39 | 1.8 (−3.4 to 6.9) | 0.50 | 2.4 (−4.3 to 9.0) | 0.48 | |||
| Week 52 | 1.2 (−2.7 to 5.0) | 0.54 | −2.0 (−7.6 to 3.5) | 0.47 | 4.0 (−1.6 to 9.5) | 0.16 | 1.8 (−5.9 to 9.4) | 0.65 | |||
| Outcome expectations scale score (range 1-5)‡: | |||||||||||
| Week 12 | 0.1 (−0.1 to 0.3) | 0.48 | 0.1 (−0.2 to 0.5) | 0.36 | 0.0 (−0.3 to 0.4) | 0.77 | 0.3 (−0.1 to 0.7) | 0.16 | |||
| Week 24 | 0.1 (−0.1 to 0.3) | 0.38 | 0.2 (−0.1 to 0.5) | 0.15 | 0.1 (−0.2 to 0.4) | 0.59 | 0.2 (−0.1 to 0.6) | 0.20 | |||
| Week 52 | 0.1 (−0.1 to 0.3) | 0.30 | 0.1 (−0.2 to 0.4) | 0.63 | 0.1 (−0.2 to 0.4) | 0.46 | 0.2 (−0.1 to 0.6) | 0.20 | |||
FIQR=revised fibromyalgia impact questionnaire; HADS=hospital anxiety and depression scale; MOS=Medical Outcome Study; 36=short form 36 questionnaire; HAQ=health assessment questionnaire.
P values were calculated with repeated measures analysis.
*
All values are estimated means, with 95% confidence intervals. Positive scores indicate improved outcome in second listed group. Boldface indicates statistically significant differences between groups.
†
Higher scores reflect more severe symptoms.
‡
Higher scores indicate better status.