| Variable | Randomised to treatment group (n = 49) | Randomised to control group (n = 52) | Received treatment (n = 61) | Did not receive treatment (n = 40) |
| n (% female) | 31 (63.3) | 41 (78.8) | 40 (65.6) | 32 (80) |
| Age (y) (mean (SD) (range)) | 49.5 (8.64) (30–63) | 51.1 (9.66) (29–65) | 49.7 (8.96) (30–65) | 51.2 (9.51) (29–63) |
| Disease (n (%)) | ||||
| Relapsing–remitting | 13 (26.5) | 18 (34.6) | 17 (27.9) | 14 (35) |
| Secondary progressive | 29 (59.2) | 27 (51.9) | 36 (59) | 20 (50) |
| Primary progressive | 7 (14.3) | 7 (13.5) | 8 (13.1) | 6 (15) |
| Time since diagnosis (y) (mean (SD)) | 10.69 (6.33) | 9.73 (7.99) | 10.52 (6.61) | 9.7 (8.11) |
| No of relapses in past 2 y (mean (SD)) | 1.07 (1.18) | 1.83 (2.15) | 1.17 (1.17) | 1.89 (2.21) |
| EDSS (n (%)) | ||||
| 0–3 | 7 (14.3) | 12 (23.1) | 8 (13.1) | 11 (27.5) |
| 3.5–6.0 | 27 (55.1) | 32 (61.5) | 36 (59) | 23 (57.5) |
| 6.5+ | 15 (30.6) | 8 (15.4) | 17 (27.9) | 6 (15) |
| FIM motor (mean (SD)) | 74.67 (13.43) | 78.5 (12.14) | 75.2 (12.66) | 78.87 (13.04) |
| FIM cognitive (mean (SD)) | 32.35 (2.76) | 33.5 (2.19) | 32.56 (2.68) | 33.55 (2.21) |
| MSIS physical (mean (SD)) | 50.31 (18.02) | 48.89 (19.43) | 51.45 (17.21) | 46.46 (20.76) |
| MSIS psychological (mean (SD)) | 19.27 (8.43) | 18.81 (7.32) | 19.92 (8.26) | 17.54 (7.0) |
| GHQ anxiety (mean (SD)) | 5.86 (3.79) | 5.54 (4.09) | 6.46 (4.18) | 4.53 (3.24) |
| GHQ depression (mean (SD)) | 3.98 (4.54) | 2.98 (4.17) | 4.03 (4.57) | 2.6 (3.9) |
| GHQ somatic (mean (SD)) | 6.96 (3.69) | 6.63 (3.94) | 7.07 (3.57) | 6.38 (4.15) |
| GHQ social (mean (SD)) | 8.73 (2.82) | 8.02 (2.5) | 8.69 (2.8) | 7.88 (2.41) |
EDSS, Expanded Disability Status Scale; FIM, Functional Independence Measure; GHQ, General Health Questionnaire; MSIS Multiple Sclerosis Impact Scale.