To study the effects of acupuncture and moxibustion on joint function and serum inflammatory factors interleukin-1β (IL-1β), tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) and hypersensitive C-reactive protein (hs-CRP) in adjuvant treatment of knee osteoarthritis.

A total of 102 patients with knee osteoarthritis who were treated in the hospital from March 2022 to March 2024 were selected for the study. They were randomly divided into observation group and control group according to the order of admission, with 51 patients in each group. The patients in the control group were treated with conventional western medicine, and those in the observation group were treated with acupuncture and moxibustion for 4 weeks. The total effective rate, TCM syndrome score, knee joint function, inflammatory factors and treatment safety were compared between the two groups.

The total effective rate was 98.04% (50/51) in the observation group and 84.31% (43/51) in the control group. The total effective rate of the observation group was higher than that of the control group (P<0.05). After treatment, the scores of joint pain, soreness and weakness of waist and knees and unfavorable flexion and extension in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group [(2.13±0.44) points, (2.07±0.45) points, (1.74±0.50) points vs (2.72±0.51) points, (2.30±0.38) points, (1.98±0.26) points], the Lysholm knee scale (LKS) score of the observation group was higher than that of the control group [(87.25±9.03) points vs (82.30±7.56) points]. The levels of serum inflammatory factors IL-1β, TNF-α and hs-CRP in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group [(17.25±3.68) pg/mL, (21.04±6.30) pg/mL, (8.12±1.43) μg/mL vs (21.38±3.40) pg/mL, (24.60±5.71) pg/mL, (9.27±1.18) μg/mL] (P<0.05). No serious adverse reactions occurred in both groups.

Acupuncture and moxibustion can achieve better curative effect in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. It can better alleviate the TCM syndromes, improve the joint function and reduce the inflammatory reaction of the patients. It has good safety and good application value.