At the last follow-up evaluation , the mean differences between the groups with regard to the WOMAC gains , adjusted for baseline values , were near zero ( for 182 patients in the per-protocol analysis ) : -1.6 % ( 95 % confidence interval [ CI ] : -5.6 % , 2.3 % ) for the total score , -1.6 % ( 95 % CI : -5.9 % , 2.8 % ) for pain , -0.7 % ( 95 % CI : -6.8 % , 5.4 % ) for stiffness , and -1.8 % ( 95 % CI : -5.9 % , 2.3 % ) for function .