Abstract: Objective To observe the clinical effect of heat sensitive moxibustion and warm acupuncture in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis, and to explore the difference of the therapeutic effect. Methods Seventy patients with knee osteoarthritis were enrolled between June 2016 and June 2017, who were randomly divided into the treatment group and the control group, 35 cases in each group. The treatment group was treated with heat-sensitive moxibustion, while the control group was treated with warm acupuncture. Two groups were treated once a day, 10 times for a course of treatment, a total of 2 courses of treatment, between the course of rest for 2 days. The changes of Lysholm knee joint function score and WOMAC osteoarthritis index score in two groups were recorded and analyzed before and after treatment. Results ①The total effective rate of heat-sensitive moxibustion therapy group was 87.10%(27/31), compared with 78.13%(25/32) in moxibustion with warming needle group(P>0.05). ②Lysholm knee joint function score of the two groups improved significantly after two courses of treatment(all P<0.01), and there was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05). ③WOMAC osteoarthritis index score of the two groups improved significantly after two courses of treatment(P<0.01), and there was no significant difference between the two groups(P>0.05). Conclusion Heat-sensitive moxibustion can significantly improve Lysholm knee joint function score and WOMAC osteoarthritis index score of patients with knee osteoarthritis, and the curative effect is equivalent to that of warm acupuncture.