Abstract: Objective To investigate the clinical effect of ointment rubbing combined with intra-articular sodium hyaluronate injection in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis. Methods Total 90 patients met the inclusion criteria were randomly divided into treatment group(ointment rubbing combined with intra-articular sodium hyaluronate injection) and control group(intra-articular sodium hyaluronate injection), with 45 cases each group. The treatment group was treated with knee ointment rubbing once a day for 20 minutes. Both groups were treated with intra-articular sodium hyaluronate injection, once a week for five times. The course of treatment in both groups was 5 weeks. All the patients received rehabilitation treatment at the same time during hospitalization, including acupuncture treatment once a day for 20 minutes and massage treatment once a day for 20 minutes. WOMAC score and knee flexion and extension activity were observed before and 1, 3 and 6 months after treatment. The changes of scores and joint mobility of the two groups were compared. The clinical effects were compared, and the adverse reactions were observed at the same time. Results The WOMAC for pain, stiffness and function were improved in both groups(P<0.05), and the WOMAC of treatment group were better than that of control group(P<0.05). Through the measurement of knee joint activity, the flexion activity of knee joint in both groups was improved(P<0.05), and there was no statistical significance in the change of extension activity(P>0.05). There were no difference between the two groups(P>0.05). Conclusion The ointment rubbing combined with intra-articular sodium hyaluronate injection in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis can improve the joint pain, stiffness and functional state, and improve the flexion activity of the patients' joints. The long-term effect is stable, and there is no obvious adverse reaction.