Table 3.

Comparison of WOMAC scores between the two groups (x̅ ± sd, scores)

Group	Control group (n=43)	Research group (n=43)	t	P
Pain degree
At the time of enrollment	13.06±3.21	13.26±3.45	0.278	0.782
12 months after enrollment	10.16±2.94***	7.03±1.13***	6.516	<0.001
Stiffness
At the time of enrollment	12.94±3.37	13.43±4.05	0.610	0.543
12 months after enrollment	9.65±2.16***	6.62±2.05***	6.672	<0.001
Joint function
At the time of enrollment	14.32±3.29	14.58±3.81	0.339	0.735
12 months after enrollment	11.06±2.09***	8.67±2.45***	4.867	<0.001

Note: Compared with this group when it was entered into the group;

^***P<0.001.