Table 1 Demographic characteristics of the groups at baseline
Variables | Pulsed laser (n = 29) | Pulsed ultrasound (n = 28) | Continuous ultrasound (n = 30) | Control (n = 24) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
(Mean/SD) | (Mean/SD) | (Mean/SD) | (Mean/SD) | |
Age (years) | 22.17 (4.68) | 22.92 (4.60) | 22.83 (5.22) | 22.37 (4.32) |
BMI (kg/cm2) | 21.98 (2.13) | 21.72 (2.27) | 21.88 (1.64) | 22.03 (1.93) |
Marital status (%) | ||||
Married | 4 (13.8) | 5 (17.8) | 5 (16.7) | 2 (8.3) |
Unmarried | 24 (82.7) | 22 (78.6) | 24 (80.0) | 22 (91.7) |
Divorced | 1 (3.5) | 1 (3.6) | 1 (3.3) | – |
Education (%) | ||||
University | 1 (3.5) | 1 (3.6) | 1 (3.3) | – |
High school | 25 (86.0) | 26 (92.8) | 26 (86.7) | 20 (83.4) |
Middle school | 3 (10.5) | 1 (3.6) | 3 (10.0) | 4 (16.6) |
Occupation (%) | ||||
Student | 25 (86.0) | 25 (89.2) | 25 (83.5) | 20 (83.4) |
Other | 4 (14.0) | 3 (10.8) | 5 (16.5) | 4 (16.6) |
Physical activity (%) | ||||
Yes | 10 (35.7) | 9 (32.1) | 9 (30.0) | 8 (33.4) |
Daily pain (%) | 31 (9.0) | 32.2 (9.0) | 43.3 (13.0) | 20.9 (5.0) |
Pain/daily duration (h) | 4 (1–5) | 5 (3.5–5) | 3 (2–5) | 5 (2–5) |
Up to 5 h (%) | 16 (55.2) | 13 (44.4) | 17 (56.7) | 10 (41.7) |
All day (%) | 13 (44.8) | 15 (55.6) | 13 (43.3) | 14 (58.3) |
Pain/duration (months) | 5 (4.7–5) | 5 (5–5) | 5 (5–5) | 5 (5–5) |
4 to 12 (%) | 7 (24.1) | 5 (17.9) | 4 (13.3) | 5 (20.8) |
Above 12 (%) | 22 (75.9) | 23 (82.1) | 26 (86.7) | 19 (79.2) |
Pain on awaking (cm) | 2 (2–3) | 3 (1–3) | 2 (2–3) | 3 (1.5–3) |
Yes (%) | 5 (17.2) | 10 (35.7) | 7 (23.3) | 6 (25.0) |
Awaking in the night due to pain | 2 (2–2) | 2 (2–3) | 2 (2–2) | 2 (2–3) |
Yes (%) | 3 (10.3) | 4 (14.3) | 3 (10.0) | 4 (16.7) |
Painful positions | 2 (1–3) | 3 (2–3) | 2 (2–3) | 2 (1–3) |
Sitting (%) | 9 (31.0) | 12 (42.8) | 7 (23.3) | 7 (29.2) |
Orthostatic position (%) | 10 (34.5) | 6 (21.5) | 9 (30.0) | 9 (37.5) |
Several positions (%) | 10 (34.5) | 10 (35.7) | 14 (46.7) | 8 (33.3) |
Sudden attacks of pain (%) | 15 (51.8) | 14 (50.0) | 11 (36.7) | 13 (54.2) |
Average pain/ Lasting four weeks (cm) | 7 (4–8) | 7 (6.5–8) | 6 (5–7) | 6 (4.5–8) |