Comparison of absolute values of tested parameters during the observation period for each group
| Variables | Group | Baseline | 6 weeks | 12 weeks | 24 weeks | P value within group |
| DASH | Exercise | 39.02 (16.10) | 27.82 (14.18)* | 21.49 (16.19)*† | 19.09 (14.52)*‡ | <0.001 |
| Control | 43.08 (16.39) | 43.45 (19.36) | 38.38 (16.29) | 38.85 (18.90) | 0.058 | |
| HAQ | Exercise | 0.81 (0.45) | 0.65 (0.48) | 0.45 (0.45)*† | 0.34 (0.34)*‡ | <0.001 |
| Control | 1.10 (0.55) | 1.14 (0.55) | 1.04 (0.49) | 1.09 (0.56) | 0.420 | |
| Grip strength DH | Exercise | 22.86 (8.77) | 26.84 (8.92)* | 29.09 (8.52)*† | 29.47 (9.65)*† | <0.001 |
| Control | 21.42 (9.75) | 22.16 (10.88) | 22.54 (10.78) | 22.83 (11.54) | 0.435 | |
| Pinch strength Jaws DH | Exercise | 4.27 (2.01) | 5.16 (1.93)* | 5.66 (1.99)*‡ | 5.65 (1.86)*‡ | <0.001 |
| Control | 3.91 (2.19) | 3.99 (1.96) | 3.92 (1.95) | 3.80 (2.26) | 0.583 | |
| Purdue DH | Exercise | 13.25 (2.05) | 14.34 (2.31)* | 15.38 (2.20)*‡ | 15.09 (2.39)*† | <0.001 |
| Control | 12.27 (2.36) | 12.63 (2.47) | 13.07 (2.20)§ | 13.50 (2.13)§† | 0.001 | |
| LupusQoL PH | Exercise | 56.44 (22.62) | 67.18 (23.03)* | 72.95 (21.54)* | 73.44 (22.77)* | <0.001 |
| Control | 51.25 (20.62) | 50.83 (22.23) | 53.33 (22.12) | 52.18 (22.88) | 0.527 | |
| LupusQoL fatigue | Exercise | 56.63 (23.74) | 66.21 (23.59)§ | 69.34 (22.36)* | 70.18 (26.96)* | <0.001 |
| Control | 49.44 (21.03) | 51.67 (22.68) | 51.67 (27.31) | 56.46 (24.92) | 0.171 | |
| Pain VAS | Exercise | 5.81 (1.67) | 4.22 (1.52) | 2.97 (1.45)*‡ | 2.71 (1.38)*‡ | <0.001 |
| Control | 6.03 (1.77) | 5.60 (1.54) | 4.97 (1.56)* | 4.93 (1.61) | <0.001 |
All values are presented as mean (SD).
*p<0.005 6, 12, 24 weeks vs baseline.
†p<0.05 12, 24 weeks vs 6 weeks.
‡p<0.005 12, 24 weeks vs 6 weeks.
§p<0.05, 6, 12, 24 weeks vs baseline.
DASH, Disabilities of Arm, Shoulder and Hand; DH, dominant hand; HAQ, Health Assessment Questionnaire; Jaws, three point pinch; LupusQoL, Lupus Quality of Life; PH, physical health; VAS, Visual Analogue Scale.