Table 2 Comparison between the two groups at 3 months

	Group 1 at 3 months	Group 2 at 3 months	Difference between means (95% CI)	p Value*	Group 2 at 6 months	Difference between means (95% CI)	p Value†
	(n = 30)	(n = 30)	Difference between means (95% CI)	p Value*	(n = 30)	Difference between means (95% CI)	p Value†
Grip strength (dominant hand)	53.9 (24.2) kPa	37.3 (22.9) kPa	10.901 (1.672 to 20.129)	0.021	52.8 (25.6) kPa	1.670 (−0.155 to 3.494)	0.072
Grip strength (non-dominant hand)	51.5 (22.9) kPa	35.5 (27.0) kPa	8.972 (0.281 to 18.224)	0.047	50.6 (23.6) kPa	0.602 (−3.618 to 4.822)	0.776
Health Assessment Questionnaire score	0.19 (0.19)	0.35 (0.32)	0.239 (0.197 to 0.281)	<0.001	0.11 (0.11)	0.077 (−0.006 to 0.160)	0.674

All values are expressed as mean (SD), except for difference between the means.
*Difference between groups 1 and 2 at 3 months, adjusted for baseline values (analysis of covariance (ANCOVA)); †difference between group 1 at 3 months and group 2 at 6 months, adjusted for baseline values (ANCOVA).