Fig 1.
Schedule for treatment and outcome assessments.
VO2peak, Peak oxygen uptake; AT, Anaerobic threshold; 6MWD, Six-minute walk distance; SF-36, 36-Item Short Form Health Survey; QBSQ, TCM Qi and Blood Status Questionnaire.
Fig 2.
Flow chart of study design.
Fig 3.
The stratified randomization process.
Fig 4.
Acupoints were applied in the trial.
R, right side; L, left side. (Fig 4 was taken by the author. The individual in the figure has granted permission in paper publication under CC BY license).
Fig 5.
Ignition-type moxibustion device.
a, the base of the device; b, the body of the device; c, moxa stick; d, the assembly of a, b, and c; e, bottom view of sham moxibustion device base; f, bottom view of real moxibustion device view. (Fig 5 was created by the author using Adobe Illustrator 2023 based on the picture of the moxibustion device).