Abstract: Objective To investigate the efficacy of warm acupunctrue method at acupoints based on syndrome differentiation in the treatment of early knee osteoarthritis(KOA) patients and its effect on joint fluid levels of matrix metalloproteinase(MMP)-3 and MMP-13. Methods Ninety early KOA patients admitted to the hospital from April 2018 to October 2019 were screened and divided into control group(45 cases) and observation group(45 cases) by the random number table method. Patients in the control group were orally given with glucosamine sulfate capsules(500 mg/time and 3 times/d). Based on the basis of the control group, the observation group was treated with syndrome differentiation point treatment of warm acupunctrue method(1 time/d and 5 times/week). Both groups were treated for 6 weeks. Scores of the western Ontario and McMaster university osteoarthritis index(WOMAC index) and knee motor function Lysholm scale(LKSS) were employed to evaluate the function of knee joint before and after treatment. Score of visual analogue scale(VAS) was used to evaluate the ache pre-post treatment. The clinical efficacy was compared for both groups after treatment. The levels of MMP-3 and MMP-13 were detected between the two groups pre-post treatment. Results After treatment, scores of the WOMAC and VAS of the observation group were significantly lower, while LKSS score was significantly higher, than those of the control group(P<0.01). The total effective rates of the observation group and the control group were 95.56% and 77.78%, respectively, and the differences were statistically significant(P<0.05). After treatment, the levels of MMP-3 and MMP-13 in the observation group were significantly lower than those in the control group(P<0.01). Conclusion The efficacy of warm acupunctrue method at acupoints based on syndrome differentiation in the treatment of early KOA is significant. It can improve joint function and relieves pain, which may be related with down-regulation of the levels of MMP-3 and MMP-13 in joint fluid.