RESUMEN
Objective To analyze the rules of acupoint selection in treating knee osteoarthritis with acupuncture and moxibustion therapy based on data mining; To provide references for clinical treatment.MethodsArticles about treating knee osteoarthritis with acupuncture and moxibustion were retrived from China National Knowledge Infrastructure (CNKI), Wanfang academic periodical full-text database, Chinese Journal Full-text Database (VIP) and SinoMed in China from Jan. 1st 2006 to Jan. 1st 2016. The database of acupuncture and moxibustion prescription was set up. The Apriori association rules, system cluster analysis and factor analysis were adopted in order to analyze the rules of acupoint selection for knee osteoarthritis.ResultsTotally 190 articles were included, covering 228 acupuncture- moxibustion prescriptions, 65 acupoints and the total frequency for 1736 times. The usual acupoints in the lower limbs were Dubi (ST35), Neixiyan (EX-LE 4), and Yanglingquan (GB34). The main maridians were Stomach Meridian of Foot-Yangming, Spleen Meridian of Foot-Taiyin, and Gallbladder Meridian of Foot-Shaoyang, accounting to for 1626 times (93.66%). Cluster analysis achieved other four groups of acupoint selection based on syndrome differentiation.ConclusionLocal acupoints and dialectical point selection were important principle in treating knee osteoarthritis combined with acupoint selection based on syndrome differentiation.