Abstract: Objective To observe the effect of the Chinese medicine steam therapy on activity of daily life(ADL)of subjects with knee osteoarthritis.Methods68 subjects with knee osteoarthritis were divided into two groups:34 subjects in Chinese medicine steam group(treated with Chinese medicine steam and physical therapy),and 34 subjects in physical therapy(with microwave and magnetism with caloric)group.The clinical feature and ADL of all the subjects were evaluated with Lequesne index of severity and activity for osteoarthritis before and after the treatment.After 0.5 year,they were followed up,the recurrence rate were compared.ResultsAll the subjects improved in clinical feature and ADL after the treatment(P<0.05),but the Chinese medicine steam group improved greater in the ADL than the other group(P<0.05).After 0.5 year,the recurrence rate of the Chinese medicine steam group is lower than that of the other group(P<0.05).ConclusionIn addition with the Chinese medicine steam is more effective on improving ADL and recurrence.

Key words: Chinese medicine steam, physical therapy, knee osteoarthritis