Objective To observe the therapeutic effect of different schemes of mild moxibustion for treatment of(yang-deficiency induced cold-accumulation type)knee osteoarthritis(KOA).Methods Fifty-nine KOA patients were chosen and randomly divided into control group(n=30)and test group(n=29).Patients of the control group were treated by mild moxibustion of Neixiyan(EX-HE 4)and Waixiyan(ST 35)for 30 min

once daily for 14days(two courses)

and those of the test group were treated by mild moxibustion of EX-HE 4and ST 35 for 30min

once daily for 7days(the same to control group)

followed by moxibustion of Yaoyangguan(GV 3)and Mingmen(GV 4)once daily for next 7days more.In addition

patients of the two groups were also treated by routine acupuncture stimulation of EX-HE 4

ST 35

Yanglingquan(GB 34)

Kunlun(BL 60)

etc.The interval between two therapeutic courses was one day.The Lysholm Knee Score Scale(LKSS)was used to evaluate the therapeutic effect.Visual analogue scale(VAS)was employed to assess the patient's knee-joint pain severity(arthralgia)

and scores of morning stiffness

arthrocele

and walking restraint degree of the knee-joint were also evaluated before and after the treatment.Results After the treatment

the scores of VAS

morning stiffness

arthrocele and walking restraint degree of the knee-joint of both groups were significantly decreased(P<0.05)

and the scores of the test group were obviously lower than those of the control group(P<0.05).The effective rate of the test group was 89.66%(26/29)which was obviously higher than that(70.00%

21/30)of the control group(P<0.05).Conclusion Mild moxibustion of Neixiyan(EX-HE 4)and Waixiyan(ST 35

local acupoints)

and Yaoyangguan(GV 3)and Mingmen(GV 4)has a better therapeutic effect for KOA patients than moxibustion of local acupoints only.