Table 4 highlights the mean difference within the two groups as well as indicates the p-values of the difference in DASH scores between the two groups. The TOHP group mean difference was -17.69 and the TEHP group mean difference was -10.36, thus indicating a difference of 7.33 between the two groups. Because the p value = 0.00 which is less than 0.05 there is significant difference between the TOHP group and the TEHP group. The TOHP showed a statistically more significant difference between the pre-test and the post-test, indicating greater improvement (change) in function than those whom followed the TEHP. The table below has also highlights that there was a significant difference for question 12 of the DASH (change a light bulb overhead) between the groups in particular.
.
Table 4: Comparison of amount of improvement in each home programme in order to determine which group is most effective (n=22 per group). P-values have been ranked from smallest to largest p-value difference
29 During the past week how much difficulty has you had sleeping because of the pain in
your arm, shoulder or hand? -0.23 -0.23
1
30 I feel less capable, less confident or less useful because my arm, shoulder or hand
problem. -0.18 -0.05
1
25 Arm, shoulder or hand pain when you performed any specific activity -0.36 -0.14 0.96
11 Carry a heavy object (over 5 Kg) -0.86 -0.32 0.74
22 During the past week, to what extent has your arm, shoulder or hand problem interfered with your normal social activities with family, friends, neighbours or
groups? -0.5 -0.45
0.74
20 Manage transportation needs -0.73 -0.64 0.7
19 Recreational activities in which you move your arm freely -0.36 -0.09 0.61
9 Make a bed -0.91 -0.32 0.59
23 During the past week, were you limited in your work or other regular daily activities as
a result of your arm, shoulder or hand problem? -0.36 -0.23
0.31
17 Recreational activities which require little effort -1.14 -0.27 0.29
21 Sexual activities -0.73 -0.45 0.29
As one can see in Table 5, in majority of the DASH questionnaire the TOHP group displayed greater results than the TEHP group, apart from questions 13 (wash or blow-dry your hair) and 29 (during the past week how much difficulty have you had sleeping because of the pain in your arm, shoulder or hand?), where the TEHP group performed better than the TOHP group.
Questions, 17 (recreational activities which require little effort), 9 (make a bed) and 19 (recreational activities in which you move your arm freely) showed the greatest percentage improvement overall and questions 13 (wash or blow-dry your hair), 29 (during the past week how much difficulty have you had sleeping because of the pain in your arm, shoulder or hand?), 20(manage transportation needs), 22 (during the past week, to what extent has your arm, shoulder or hand problem interfered with your normal social activities with family, friends, neighbours or groups?), 23 (during the past week, were you limited in your work or other regular daily activities as a result of your arm, shoulder or hand problem?), 28 (stiffness in your arm, shoulder or hand), 30 (I feel less capable, less confident or less useful because my arm, shoulder or hand problem) displayed the least percentage improvement, where improvement was less than 5 % in general.
In the TOHP group patients displayed the most improvement in questions 1 (open a tight or new bottle) and 14 (wash your back), where improvement was noted to be greater than 40%, where as in the TEHP displayed the most improvements in questions 1 (open a tight or new bottle) and 13 (wash or blow-dry your hair), where improvement was noted to be greater than 30%.
Table 5: Summary of % improvement between each DASH question in TOHP group and the TEHP group as well as the % difference between the two groups
Variable
Overall % improvement between
pre-test & post-test scores per question between the two groups TOHP
During the past week how much difficulty have you had sleeping because of the
pain in your arm, shoulder or hand? 13.51% 14.63% -1.12%
20 Manage transportation needs 28.57% 27.08% 1.49%
22
During the past week, to what extent has your arm, shoulder or hand problem interfered with your normal social activities with family, friends, neighbours or
groups? 18.64% 16.67% 1.97%
23
During the past week, were you limited in your work or other regular daily activities as a result of your arm, shoulder or hand problem?
13.21%
10.91% 2.30%
30
I feel less capable, less confident or less useful because my arm, shoulder or hand problem.
25 Arm, shoulder or hand pain when you performed any specific activity 13.56% 5.26% 8.30%
21 Sexual activities 30.77% 21.95% 8.82%
Recreational activities in which you take some force or
impact through your arm, shoulder or hand 17.14% 3.57% 13.57%
11 Carry a heavy object (over 5 Kg) 24.00% 10.14% 13.86%
3 Turn a key 35.19% 20.83% 14.36%
10 Carry a shopping bag or briefcase 28.81% 13.21% 15.60%
14 Wash your back 46.81% 30.77% 16.04%
5 Push open a heavy door 36.21% 18.97% 17.24%
19 Recreational activities in which you move your arm freely 23.68% 3.57% 20.11%
9 Make a bed 39.22% 17.39% 21.83%
17 Recreational activities which require little effort 33.33% 5.97% 27.36%
DASH Score 42.42% 33.33% 9.09%
Figure 8 below demonstrates the greatest % improvement in the question 17 and the least for question 20 for the TOHP group, where as in questions 13 and 29, the TEHP group performed better than the TOHP group.
Figure 8:% Improvement between each DASH question in TOHP vs. the TEHP from the most to the least (n=22 per group).
-0,05 0,00 0,05 0,10 0,15 0,20 0,25 0,30
Recreational activities which require little effort Make a bed Recreational activities in which you move your arm freely Push open a heavy door Wash your back Carry a shopping bag or briefcase Turn a key Carry a heavy object (over 5 Kg) Recreational activities in which you take some force or impact through your arm,… Do heavy household chores Use a knife to cut food Weakness in your arm, shoulder or hand Garden or do yard work Place an object on a shelf above your head Put on a pull over jersey Open a tight or new bottle Sexual activities Arm, shoulder or hand pain when you performedany specific activity Change a light bulb overhead Arm, shoulder or hand pain Tingling (pins and needles) in your arm, shoulder, or hand Prepare a meal Write Stiffness in your arm, shoulder or hand I feel less capable, less confident or less useful because my arm, shoulder or… During the past week, were you limited in your work or other regular daily activities… During the past week, to what extent has your arm, shoulder or hand problem… Manage transportation needs During the past week how much difficulty has you had sleeping because of the… Wash or blow-dry your hair
17 9 19 5 14 10 3 11 18 7 16 27 8 6 15 1 21 25 12 24 26 4 2 28 30 23 22 20 29 13
% improvement
DASH questionnaire