Table 2 Comparison of outcome measures within and between groups

Severity of breast pain (NRS)

0.126

0.016^e

 Ultrasound

6 (4,7)

1.5 (0, 4)

0 (0, 0.75)

< 0.001^a,b,c

 Sham

6 (2, 8.75)

1.5 (0, 2)

0 (0, 0)

< 0.001^a,b,c

 Usual care

4 (3, 6)

3 (1.5, 4)

1 (0, 2)

0.001^a,b,c

Severity of breast redness (NRS)

0.226

0.185

 Ultrasound

0.50 (0, 4.0)

0 (0, 2.75)

0 (0,0)

0.011^c

 Sham

0 (0, 5)

0 (0, 1)

0 (0, 0)

0.026^c

 Usual care

1 (0, 3)

1 (0, 2)

0 (0, 0.5)

0.006^b,c

Severity of breast lump (NRS)

0.620

0.344

 Ultrasound

7 (5.25, 8)

3.5 (1.5, 5)

0.5 (0, 4.5)

< 0.001^a,c

 Sham

5 (2, 7.5)

2.5 (1.25, 5)

0 (0, 2)

0.001^a,b,c

 Usual care

5 (3, 7)

4 (2.5, 5)

2 (0, 3.5)

0.004^b,c

Severity of general malaise (NRS)

0.506

0.779

 Ultrasound

3.5 (0.25, 6.0)

0 (0, 1)

0 (0, 0)

< 0.001^a,c

 Sham

3.5 (0, 5)

0.5 (0, 2)

0 (0, 0)

0.006^b,c

 Usual care

1 (0, 3)

1 (0, 2)

0 (0, 0)

0.004^a,c

BESE total score

0.175

0.437

 Ultrasound

40.0 (33.3, 49.0)

47.0 (31.75, 53.75)

52.0 (40.0, 58.0)

0.032^b,c

 Sham

49.5 (39.25, 62.5)

56.5 (41.75, 66.0)

59.5 (34.25, 68.75)

0.018^a

 Usual care

43 (37.5, 49)

46 (42, 51.5)

55 (52.5, 59.5)

< 0.001^a,b,c

Severity of breast engorgement

0.028^d,e

0.310

 Ultrasound

4.5 (4, 5)

2 (2, 3)

1 (1, 2)

< 0.001^a,b,c

 Sham

4 (3.3, 4.8)

2 (2, 3)

1.5 (1, 2)

< 0.001^a,b,c

 Usual care

4 (4, 4)

4 (2.5, 4.5)

2 (1, 3)

0.002^b,c

Breast hardness

0.508

0.100

 Ultrasound

9.7 (4.0, 18.5)

4.0 (2.4, 14.5)

5.2 (2.8, 7.4)

0.323

 Sham

4.5 (1.7, 13.8)

4.3 (1.8, 13.4)

1.0 (0.2, 5.9)

0.098

 Usual care

10.8 (5.1, 19.7

7.7 (3.3, 20.2)

2.3 (1.1, 3.7)

0.003^b,c

Breast temperature (°C)

0.947

0.312

 Ultrasound

37.1 (36.8, 37.4)

37.0 (36.7, 37.4)

36.9 (36.7, 37.3)

0.917

 Sham

37.2 (36.9, 37.6)

36.9 (36.7, 37.4)

36.7 (36.6, 37.1)

0.002^a,c

 Usual care

37.6 (36.5, 38.2)

36.8 (36.6, 37.4)

37.0 (36.7, 37.4)

0.080

Body temperature (°C)

0.089

0.035^d

 Ultrasound

36.5 (36.3, 36.5)

36.5 (36.3, 36.7)

36.4 (36.3, 36.5)

0.592

 Sham

36.6 (36.4, 36.9)

36.6 (36.4, 36.7)

36.4 (36.1, 36.7)

0.274

 Usual care

36.4 (36.3, 36.6)

36.3 (36.3, 36.6)

36.2 (36.0, 36.3)

0.132

Volume of milk (g)

0.476

0.386

 Ultrasound

26.1 (16.6, 61.0)

39.4 (19.3, 81.5)

52.2 (20.6, 81.5)

0.388

 Sham

22.5 (10.1, 32.8)

16.1 (5.1, 31.1)

17.8 (2.6, 35.3)

0.544

 Usual care

55.3 (17.1, 81.8)

62 (15.8, 79)

40.7 (16.9, 112.0)

0.775