Table 3 Changes in SF-36 subscales following 6 months of treatment. Results are presented as mean (SD) [95 % confidence interval, CI]

Overall score

41.6 (16.6)

[33.1–50.1]

52.4 (17.5)

[43.4–61.4]

54.5 (22.5)

[42.9–66.1]

P = 0.017

P = 0.003

Physical functioning

36.5 (28.2)

[22.0–51.0]

49.7 (21.1)

[38.9–60.6]

53.2 (27.9)

[38.9–67.6]

P = 0.032

P = 0.032

Pain

32.5 (23.5)

[20.4–44.6]

54.6 (24.0)

[42.2–66.9]

58.8 (27.5)

[44.7–73.0]

P = 0.002

P = 0.006

Limitation due to physical health

22.1 (36.3)

[3.4–40.7]

39.7 (41.5)

[18.4–61.1]

41.2 (46.7)

[17.2–65.2]

P = 0.097

P = 0.008

Vitality

48.5 (14.2)

[41.2–55.8]

53.8 (14.0)

[46.6–61.0]

51.5 (18.4)

[42.0–60.9]

P = 0.543

P = 0.049

Emotional well-being

54.4 (17.0)

[45.6–63.1]

62.6 (14.6)

[55.1–70.1]

63.5 (18.7)

[53.9–73.1]

P = 0.023

P = 0.129

Limitation due to mental health

29.4 (42.3)

[7.7–51.2]

39.2 (41.2)

[18.0–60.4]

49.0 (48.8)

[24.0–74.1]

P = 0.136

P = 0.414

Social functioning

46.3 (21.5)

[35.2–57.4]

66.2 (22.0)

[54.9–77.5]

65.4 (26.0)

[52.1–78.8]

P = 0.010

P = 0.002

General health

55.6 (14.4)

[48.2–63.1]

57.4 (15.3)

[49.5–65.2]

57.8 (17.0)

[49.1–66.6]

P = 0.570

P = 0.678

PCS

36.7 (19.4)

[26.7–46.6]

50.3 (21.2)

[39.4–61.2]

52.8 (26.1)

[39.4–66.2]

P = 0.017

P = 0.005

MCS

44.7 (17.5)

[35.7–53.6]

55.5 (18.6)

[45.9–65.0]

57.4 (23.9)

[45.1–69.7]

P = 0.026

P = 0.028