Table 4 Within-group comparison of clinical outcomes across baseline, first month, and third month of the study among participants in usual care and very early exercise groups

Usual care group

 Motor impairment

4.0 (4.0–5.0)^a

4.0 (3.0–4.0)^a

3.0 (2.0–3.0)^b

 Physical disability

4.0 (3.0–5.0)^a

3.0 (3.0–4.0)^b

2.5 (2.0–3.0)^c

 Functional independence

60.0 (33.0–72.2)^a

63.0 (35.2–73.7)^b

69.5 (43.5–77.2)^c

 Depression

9.0 (7.2–11.7)^a

8.0 (5.5–10.0)^b

6.5 (4.0–8.7)^c

 Anxiety

10.0 (7.0–12.0)^a

8.5 (7.0–11.0)^b

6.5 (4.2–9.0)^c

 Cognition

16.0 (11.2–19.7)^a

16.0 (12.0–20.7)^a

17.5 (13.0–21.0)^b

Very early exercise group

 Motor impairment

5.0 (4.0–5.0)^a

3.0 (2.0–3.0)^b

1.0 (1.0–2.0)^c

 Physical disability

5.0 (4.0–5.0)^a

3.0 (2.0–4.0)^b

1.0 (1.0–2.0)^c

 Functional independence

66.5 (46.2–76.5)^a

71.5 (55.7–81.7)^b

82.0 (78.0–91.5)^c

 Depression

8.5 (7.0–12.0)^a

6.5 (5.0–9.0)^b

4.0 (3.0–6.0)^c

 Anxiety

9.5 (6.2–11.0)^a

7.5 (4.0–9.0)^b

4.5 (2.0–7.0)^c

 Cognition

14.0 (9.2–21.0)^a

16.0 (11.2–24.0)^b

17.0 (14.0–26.5)^c