Abstract: Objective To observe the clinical efficacy of knee osteoarthritis(KOA) by using the traditional Chinese medicine external application technology of waist and knee. Methods A total of 60 KOA cases, in accordance with the inclusion criteria, were randomly divided into the waist and knee co-medication group, the waist medication group, the knee medication group, according to the different medication sites of Layers Adjusting External Application (LAEA). The improvement of the symptoms such as joint pain, swelling and dysfunction in the three groups were observed and compared. Results After treatment, Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index (WOMAC) scores and Visual Analogue Scale (VAS) scores of the three groups were all decreased (P<0. 05). After two weeks of treatment, the pain, physical function scores of WOMAC and VAS scores in waist and knee co-medication group were significantly lower than those in the other two groups(P<0. 05). WOMAC pain score, WOMAC physical function score and VAS score in co-medication group and knee medication group were significantly lower than those in waist medication group after four weeks of treatment(P<0. 05). After 6 weeks, 8 weeks of therapy and 1 month of follow up, there were no significant differences in WOMAC scores and VAS scores among the three groups (P>0. 05). At the end of the treatment, the efficiency of the waist and knee co-medication group was 57. 9%, compared with 45. 0% and 20. 0% in knee medication group and waist medication group(P<0. 05). Conclusions LAEA is safe and effective to improve the KOA patients’ joint pain and life of quality, whether applying LAEA to waist, knee or both waist and knee. Nevertheless applying LAEA to both waist and knee can achieve better efficacy and shows significant advantage in early onset.

Key words: knee osteoarthritis, waist and knee, Layers Adjusting External Application, pain