Table 4 Outcomes changes over time compared to baseline values throughout treatment (marginal estimated mean improvements), by group
Mean score change (95% CI) | Time main effect (RTE)a (n = 41) | ||
|---|---|---|---|
NCS (experimental group, n = 20) | Ice (comparison group, n = 21) | ||
Functional capacity (LEFS scores, 0–80) | |||
1 week | 22.0 (13.6 to 30.3) | 17.6 (10.2 to 25.0) | 0.340 |
2 weeks | 32.8 (26.0 to 39.6) | 30.1 (22.4 to 37.7) | 0.514 |
4 weeks | 42.7 (37.2 to 48.1) | 38.3 (31.1 to 45.6) | 0.716 |
6 weeks | 45.2 (40.3 to 50.0) | 41.6 (33.5 to 49.7) | 0.800 |
Pain at rest (VAS, 0–10) | |||
1 week | − 0.4 (+ 0.8 to − 1.5) | −1.3 (− 0.6 to − 2.1) | 0.375 |
2 weeks | −1.1 (+ 0.2 to − 2.3) | −1.9 (− 0.8 to −3.0) | 0.534 |
4 weeks | − 1.6 (− 0.3 to − 2.9) | − 2.1 (− 0.8 to − 3.4) | 0.668 |
6 weeks | − 1.8 (− 0.6 to − 2.9) | − 2.2 (− 0.9 to − 3.4) | 0.705 |
Pain during usual activities (VAS, 0–10) | |||
1 week | − 2.1 (− 0.6 to − 3.6) | − 2.3 (− 1.3 to − 3.3) | 0.382 |
2 weeks | −2.8 (− 1.5 to − 4.2) | −3.4 (− 2.4 to − 4.4) | 0.490 |
4 weeks | −3.8 (− 2.4 to − 5.2) | −4.1 (− 2.9 to − 5.3) | 0.682 |
6 weeks | −4.1 (− 2.7 to − 5.6) | −4.4 (− 3.2 to − 5.6) | 0.774 |
Oedema (Figure-of-8, cm) | |||
1 week | −0.69 (− 0.05 to − 1.34) | −0.64 (+ 0.11 to − 1.38) | 0.496 |
2 weeks | − 1.06 (− 0.29 to − 1.83) | −0.56 (+ 0.28 to − 1.40) | 0.508 |
4 weeks | − 1.24 (− 0.29 to − 2.18) | −0.93 (− 0.19 to − 1.67) | 0.532 |
6 weeks | −1.15 (− 0.20 to − 2.09) | −0.76 (− 0.05 to − 1.47) | 0.519 |
Dorsiflexion ROM (WBLT, cm) | |||
1 week | 2.4 (− 0.1 to 4.9) | 3.6 (1.1 to 6.0) | 0.414 |
2 weeks | 4.1 (1.9 to 6.3) | 4.8 (2.2 to 7.4) | 0.550 |
4 weeks | 5.2 (3.0 to 7.4) | 5.9 (3.2 to 8.6) | 0.643 |
6 weeks | 5.7 (3.4 to 8.0) | 5.9 (3.1 to 8.7) | 0.668 |