Figure 1.

Protocol for each participant for the 11-week trial. Before starting, participants were interviewed, recruited if they fit the selection criteria, and entered into the randomization table. At the first visit, recruited participants underwent their baseline measurements followed by the first treatment. Throughout 8 weeks, treatments (T) were applied twice per week at 3- to 4-day intervals at the same time of day. Full sets of measurements (M) were conducted at 2-week intervals and always preceded treatment on those days. During weeks 10 and 11, there was no treatment and the final visit was for debriefing and diary collection (D). Questionnaires (Q) were presented at week 9.