Table 3 Participants’ scores on the eight domains and physical and mental component summary scores on the Short Form-36 (S-36) questionnaire at baseline and at the end of the study and differences in the changes between the study and control groups

Physical function

Baseline: 34.35 (13.34)

End of follow-up: 30.92 (12.91)

Difference: -3.43 (13.11)

Baseline: 31.88 (12.35)

End of follow-up: 29.30 (10.69) Difference: -2.58 (11.02)

−0.85 (-4.16 - 2.44)

Role-physical

Baseline: 35.66 (11.79)

End of follow-up: 34.58 (11.09)

Difference: -1.08 (12.68)

Baseline: 35.36 (12)

End of follow-up: 33.16 (9.97) Difference: -2.20 (11.93)

1.12 (-2.16 - 4.42)

Bodily pain

Baseline: 50.78 (11.82)

End of follow-up: 49.24 (11.75) Difference: -1.54 (13.92)

Baseline: 50.23 (10.8)

End of follow-up: 49.04 (12.43) Difference: -1.18 (11.14)

−0.36 (-3.55 - 2.83)

General health

Baseline: 37.73 (9.6)

End of follow-up: 36.69 (8.34) Difference: -1.04 (9.46)

Baseline: 37.91(8.63)

End of follow-up: 36.67 (8.74) Difference: -1.25 (9.19)

0.20 (-2.27 - 2.68)

Vitality

Baseline: 47.85 (11.04)

End of follow-up: 45.67 (9.74) Difference: -2.18 (10.20)

Baseline: 47.44 (9.39)

End of follow-up: 43.81 (9.13) Difference: -3.63 (9.27)

1.45 (-1.17 – 4.07)

Social functioning

Baseline: 46.09 (11.34)

End of follow-up: 44.59 (12.67) Difference: -1.50 (13.74)

Baseline: 45.74 (10.28)

End of follow-up: 44.10 (11.28) Difference: -1.64 (12.53)

0.13 (-3.39 – 3.67)

Role emotional

Baseline: 35.88 (13.86)

End of follow-up: 34.95 (12.36) Difference: -0.94 (14.95)

Baseline: 34.06 (14.08)

End of follow-up: 33.67 (13.02) Difference: -0.39 (13.94)

−0.55 (-4.42 – 3.32)

Mental health

Baseline: 45.54 (10.77)

End of follow-up: 43.80 (10.71) Difference: -1.73 (10.26)

Baseline: 44.87 (11.00)

End of follow-up: 41.87 (10.67) Difference: -2.99 (12.85)

1.25 (-1.95 – 4.48)

PCS

Baseline: 39.18 (9.73)

End of follow-up: 37.11 (9.07) Difference: -2.07 (8.98)

Baseline: 38.39 (8.98)

End of follow-up: 36.48 (8.64) Difference: -1.91 (7.75)

−0.16 (-2.44 – -2.12)

MCS

Baseline: 45.63 (11.22)

End of follow-up: 44.56 (10.95) Difference: -1.08 (11.30)

Baseline: 44.98 (10.72)

End of follow-up: 43.06 (10.95) Difference: -1.92 (10.92)

−0.84 (-2.11 – 3.80)