Objective:To observe the therapeutic effect differences among five-knee-point acupuncture combined with Chinese medication package warm compress therapy of Shēntòng Zhúyū Decoction(身痛逐瘀汤 generalized pain stasis-expelling decoction),simple five-knee-point acupuncture and simple Chinese medication package warm compress therapy of Shēntòng Zhúyū Decoction in treating knee osteoarthritis(KOA).Methods:A total of 126 KOA patients were randomized into a five-knee-point acupuncture combined with Chinese medication package warm compress therapy group(combined treatment group),where there were 42 cases,including 28 cases of unilateral KOA and 14 cases of bilateral KOA,totally 56 affected knees involved,a Chinese medication package warm compress therapy group(medication package group,42 cases,including 22 cases of unilateral KOA,20 cases of bilateral KOA,totally 62 affected knees involved)and a five-knee-point acupuncture group(five-knee-point group,42 cases,including 27 cases of unilateral KOA,15 cases of bilateral KOA,totally 57 affected knees involved).The basic health education was provided in all of the groups.Additionally,in the combined treatment group,acupuncture was applied to the five knee points on the affected side for 30 min.The warm compress with herbal package of Shēntòng Zhúyū Decoction was given for 10 to 15 min.In the medication package group,the warm compress with Shēntòng Zhúyū Decoction was exerted on the affected area for 10 to 15 min.In the fiveknee-point group,acupuncture was applied to SP 10,ST 34,EX-LE 2,EX-LE 4 and ST 35 and the needles were retained for 30 min.The treatment in each group was given once a day,consecutively for 2 weeks.Before and after treatment,the visual analogue scale(VAS)and Lysholm knee scale were adopted to evaluate the pain degree and knee joint motor function in KOA patients.The clinical therapeutic effects were evaluated too.Results:A total of 121 cases accomplished the final observation and 5 cases were dropped out in the three groups,in which,2
