Effectiveness of moxibustion treatment as adjunctive therapy in osteoarthritis of the knee: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Table 2 Comparison of WOMAC index score change (percentage) from baseline

Endpoint	Week	Active group n = 55; (%)		Sham group n = 55; (%)		Z value	P value
Endpoint	Week	$\bar{x} \pm SD$	Median (P25, P75)	$\bar{x} \pm SD$	Median (P25, P75)	Z value	P value
Pain	3	24.65 ± 43.42	32.56 (9.74, 51.91)	2.63 ± 57.87	3.61 (-19.23, 44.44)	-2.513	0.012^a
	6	52.87 ± 31.57	60.50 (33.70, 77.70)	24.43 ± 50.03	29.38 (3.28, 59.21)	-3.806	<0.001^a
	12	57.90 ± 31.77	59.77 (38.46, 86.08)	18.37 ± 62.38	30.12 (-2.78, 65.15)	-3.052	0.001^a
	24	50.75 ± 35.03	61.31 (31.08, 74.73)	20.47 ± 57.30	39.86 (-5.71, 75.00)	-3.111	0.002^a
Function	3	21.71 ± 79.25	40.76 (9.89, 61.87)	-7.23 ± 96.90	15.93 (-11.44, 34.81)	-3.080	0.002^a
	6	39.03 ± 71.26	54.37 (30.52, 73.65)	13.14 ± 111.49	34.50 (4.57, 65.97)	-2.423	0.015^a
	12	50.84 ± 43.67	60.61 (32.82, 78.83)	14.51 ± 89.63	32.68 (-5.5, 64.20)	-3.543	<0.001^a
	24	43.58 ± 53.51	58.32 (23.32, 74.11)	11.28 ± 114.82	39.86 (-5.71, 75.00)	-1.898	0.058

Western Ontario and McMaster Universities’ Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) score reduction change (post-treatment - baseline)/baseline × 100%. ^a P <0.05 for purpose of comparison. SD, standard deviation.

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