OBJECTIVETo explore a better therapy for knee osteoarthritis.

METHODSOne hundred cases were randomly divided into a comprehensive group and an acupuncture group, 50 cases in each one. The comprehensive treatment of fire needles at bones combined with cupping and Tuina on local area of affected knee was applied in the comprehensive group. The Ashi points were mainly selected in the fire needles at bones therapy, once every other day. The cupping and Tuina therapy was adopted once a day. The conventional acupuncture was applied in the acupuncture group, in which Dubi (ST 35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), Xuehai (SP 10), Liangqiu (ST 34) and so on were selected, once a day. Ten days of treatment were taken as a treatment course in both two groups, and totally 1 to 2 courses was required. The pain score of joint before and after the treatment was observed and efficacy was assessed in two groups.

RESULTSCompared before the treatment, the pain score of joint after the treatment was obviously improved in two groups (both P<0.05), and the score in the comprehensive group was lower than that in the acupuncture group (P<0.05). The clinical cured rate was 38.0% (19/50), which was superior to 20.0% (10/50) in the acupuncture group.

CONCLUSIONThe comprehensive treatment of fire needles at bones combined with cupping and Tuina, considered as a better therapy for knee osteoarthritis, could improve joint pain, swelling and action function, which is superior to the conventional acupuncture.