After 26 weeks pain intensity was lower ( visual analogue scale , cumulative odds ratio 1.84 ; 95 % confidence interval 1.04-3 .25 ; P = 0.035 ) and quality of life was higher ( Rand-36 health survey , between-group difference 30 , 95 % confidence interval 4-57 ; P = 0.024 ) in the intervention group , compared with the control group .