OBJECTIVE: This meta-analysis aims to assess the efficacy of acupuncture-related therapy on knee osteoarthritis (KOA) patients. METHODS: We searched PubMed, Embase, and CNKI databases to screen eligible trials between 2017 and 2022. All trials that used acupuncture/moxibustion of KOA patients were included. Study selection and data extraction were performed by 2 researchers independently. The statistics was performed by using R 4.1.1. RESULTS: A total of 17 trials were included in our meta-analysis. Meta-analysis results showed the evidence of the relation of several common acupunture/moxibustion treatments by network meta-analysis. In the fixed effect model, acupuncture/moxibustion has superior therapy efficacy than sham treatment (mean difference = -0.34 (95% confidence interval -0.52 to -0.16) P = 0.95). In fixed effect model, specific acupuncture/moxibustion has superior therapy efficacy than usual acupuncture/moxibustion (mean difference = -0.45 (95% confidence interval -0.62 to -0.29) P < 0.01). CONCLUSIONS: Acupuncture/moxibustion has superior therapy efficacy than sham treatment. Specific acupuncture/moxibustion has superior therapy efficacy than usual acupuncture/moxibustion.

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