Characteristic Acupuncture group I
(n=25)
Mean ± S.D		 Homeopathy group II
(n=25)
Mean ± S.D		 Controls group III
(n=25)
Mean ± S.D		 P value, 1-way ANOVA group I vs.
group II		 group I
vs.
group III		 group II
vs.
group III
VAS 2.74 ± 0.98 5.16 ± 0.79 8.90 ± 1.03 <0.001* <0.001* <0.001* <0.001*
WOMAC
Total		 25.04 ± 0.62 34.00 ± 0.99 41.81 ± 0.93 <0.001* <0.001* <0.001* <0.001*
WOMAC
Pain		 4.72 ± 0.62 8.04 ± 0.99 12.06 ± 0.93 <0.001* <0.001* <0.001* <0.001*
WOMAC
Stiffness		 0.35 ± 0.62 2.06 ± 0.99 4.06 ± 0.93 <0.001* <0.001* <0.001* <0.001*
WOMAC
physical function		 20.16 ± 0.62 24.92 ± 0.99 25.88 ± 0.93 <0.001* <0.001* <0.001* 0.305
HAQ score 0.94 ± 0.45 1.68 ± 0.48 1.84 ± 0.37 <0.001* <0.001* <0.001* 0.403
Knee circumference 45.19 ± 1.90 45.30 ± 1.89 44.27 ± 3.09 0.057 - - -
Table 4: Comparison between the outcomes of the studied groups at the end of week 6. *Data are expressed as mean ± standard deviation. ANOVA: Analysis of Variance; VAS: Visual Analogue Scale for pain; WOMAC: Western Ontario and McMaster University Osteoarthritis Index HAQ: Health Assessment Questionnaire.