Table 4.

the pain index at week 4, 8, 12

Secondary outcomes	Overall effect						Heterogeneity test			Figure	Reference
	MD	95%CI	P	Tau2	I2 (%)	P	Statistical method	Studies (N)	Sample size (N)
VAS at 4 weeks	−6.38	−10.20, −2.57	0.001	18.94	95%	<0.00001	Random inverse variance	4	238	Fig S1	[24, 26, 33, 35]
VAS at 8 weeks	−5.44	−8.8, −2.09	0.001	14.11	95	<0.00001	Random inverse variance	4	299	Fig S2	[24, 26, 36, 37]
VAS at 12 weeks	−19.37	−23.90, − 14.85	<0.00001	–	43	0.15	Fixed inverse variance	2	127	Fig S3	[24, 26]
WOMAC pain at 4 weeks	−6.91	− 11.08, −2.74	0.001	15.85	85	<0.0001	Random inverse variance	3	186	Fig S4	[24, 26, 33]
WOMAC pain at 8 weeks	−11.05	−14.94, −7.17	<0.00001	10.57	79	0.003	Random inverse variance	2	127	Fig S5	[24, 26]
WOMAC pain at 12 weeks	−12.37	−19.47, −5.26	0.0006	58.02	97	<0.00001	Random inverse variance	3	262	Fig S6	[24, 26, 34]