Table 1 Basic characteristics of subjects in the two groups
| Variables | Categories |
Thermal gun (N = 38) |
Heat pack (N = 38) | p value | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Age | 66.58 ± 7.38 | 68.00 ± 6.16 | 0.37 | ||
| Gender | Male | 8 (21%) | 13 (34%) | 0.31 | |
| Female | 30 (79%) | 25 (66%) | |||
| Symptomatic side | Right | 24 (63%) | 22 (58%) | 0.82 | |
| Left | 14 (37%) | 16 (42%) | |||
| Duration (year) | Mean ± SD | 10.00 ± 6.20 | 7.15 ± 4.44 | 0.04 | |
| Occupation | Wholesale and retail trades, restaurants and hotels | 8 (21%) | 12 (31%) | 0.25 | |
| Community, social and personal service | 16 (42%) | 14 (37%) | |||
| Transport and related service, storage and communication | 5 (13%) | 4 (11%) | |||
| Manufacturing | 0 | 2 (5%) | |||
| Construction | 0 | 2 (5%) | |||
| Civilian service | 2 (5%) | 0 | |||
| Stay at home | 7 (19%) | 4 (11%) | |||
| Capable activities | Kneeling | Cannot | 29 (76%) | 30 (79%) | 1.00 |
| Can | 9 (24%) | 8 (21%) | |||
| Squatting | Cannot | 20 (53%) | 23 (61%) | 0.64 | |
| Can | 18 (47%) | 15 (39%) | |||
| Carry weight | Cannot | 24 (63%) | 21 (55%) | 0.64 | |
| Can | 14 (37%) | 17 (45%) | |||
| Running | Cannot | 34 (89%) | 36 (95%) | 1.00 | |
| Can | 4 (11%) | 2 (5%) | |||
| Vigorous knee movement | Cannot | 37 (97%) | 37 (97%) | 1.00 | |
| Can | 1 (3%) | 1 (3%) | |||
| Prolonged standing | Cannot | 27 (71%) | 22 (58%) | 0.34 | |
| Can | 11 (29%) | 16 (42%) | |||
| Walking | Cannot | 28 (74%) | 26 (68%) | 1.00 | |
| Can | 10 (26%) | 12 (32%) | |||