ObjectiveTo compare the effect of proprioceptive neuromuscular training methods on pain and motor ability of knee in patients with early knee osteoarthritis (KOA) . MethodsFrom November, 2022 to May, 2023, 60 early KOA patients from Beijing Bo'ai Hospital and community were randomly divided into groups A, B and C, with 20 patients in each group. Group A received proprioceptive neuromuscular facilitation (PNF), group B received neuromuscular exercise (NEMEX), and group C received PNF and NEMEX, for six weeks. They were assessed with Visual Analogue Scale for pain (VAS), angle reappearance test, difference of pre-motor reaction time (VM-VL), active range of motion (AROM) of knee flexion, 10-meter walk test (10MWT), and Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) before and after treatment. ResultsAll the indexes improved in all the groups after treatment (|t| > 2.532, P < 0.05). Among the groups, the VAS score was the least in group A, and then groups C and B; the angle reappearance error was the least in group C, and similar in groups A and B; the VM-VL was the least in groups A and C, followed by group B. ConclusionPNF, NEMEX and PNF+NEMEX can relieve the pain and improve the motor function of knee in patients with early KOA, however, PNF is the most effective on relieving pain, and PNF+NEMEX is the most effective on improving knee function.