Objective To observe and evaluate the clinical efficacy of acupuncture and Chinese massage on knee osteoarthritis and conduct the analysis on the functions of knee flexors and extensors in patients. Methods Eighty cases were randomly divided into an observation group and a control group, 40 cases in each one. In observation group, acupuncture combined with Chinese massage was applied. The main acupoints for acupuncture were Nèixīyǎn （内膝眼 EX-LE 4）, Hèdǐng （鹤顶 EX-LE 2）, Dúbí （犊鼻 ST 35）, etc. In Chinese massage, gun-fa （rolling）, rou-fa （kneading）, na-fa （grasping）, ca-fa （rubbing） and passive movements of joints were applied. In control group, Fenbid was administered orally. The efficacy evaluation, JOA score and the result of isokinetic testing were compared before and after treatment in two groups. Results ① The total effective rate was 90.0% （36/40） in observation group and was 87.5% （35/40） in control group, indicating equivalent efficacy between two groups （P0.05）. JOA score after treatment increased remarkably compared with that before treatment in two groups （both P0.01）. ② It was indicated in isokinetic test of two groups that peak torque （PT）, total work （TW） and average power （AP） after treatment were all improved in comparison with those before treatment （P0.05, P0.01） and the improvement after treatment in observation group was much more remarkable as compared with that in control group （all P0.05）. Conclusion Acupuncture and Chinese massage can improve significantly in the symptoms, the muscle strength of the flexors and extensors as well as motor function of the patients with knee osteoarthritis, which is superior to that achieved with Fenbid.
