title: [Analysis of palpation laws of muscle meridian focus on knee osteoarthritis].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To explore the distribution regulars of proximal and distal focus of muscle meridian regions in knee osteoarthritis patients.
  
  
  METHODS
  Seven hundred and sixty-five knees were selected in 516 cases of knee osteoarthritis. Under the guidance of muscle meridian theory, with the anatomical features of muscle meridian focus, the frequency and the location where the proximal and distal focus of muscle meridian regions appeared were calculated by palpation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Of all the points, 11 835 points of proximal focus of muscle meridian regions were found out by palpation, and 9455 points of distal focus of muscle meridian regions were found out. The percentages of the frequency that the focus of muscle meridian of Foot-Yangming, Foot-Taiyang, Foot-Shaoyang and three foot Yin meridians appeared at proximal points of knee were 37.1% (4388/11 835), 34.9% (4127/11 835), 9.5% (1129/11 835) and 18.5% (2191/11 835) respectively; and the percentage of the frequency that the focus of muscle meridian appeared at distal points of knee were 24.7% (2333/9455), 25.2% (2380/9455), 28.5% (2700/9455) and 21.6% (2042/9455).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The proximal and distal focus of muscle meridian in knee osteoarthritis patients are closely related with anatomy structure and biomechanical characteristics; the distribution regulars of focus of muscle meridians study provides evidence for the selection of effective treatment points from different clinical acupuncture therapies.
authors.affiliation: College of Acupuncture-Moxibustion and Massage, Liaoning University of TCM, Shenyang 110847, China. The First Affiliated Hospital of Liaoning University of TCM.
authors.forename: Shu-Jian
authors.initials: SJ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Xiao-Qing
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Han
authors.forename: Chun-Ri
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bao-Qiang
authors.initials: BQ
authors.lastname: Dong
mesh_terms: D015669:Acupuncture Points; D015670:Acupuncture Therapy; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D007866:Leg / Q000033:anatomy & histology; D008297:Male; D016740:Meridians; D008875:Middle Aged; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000033:anatomy & histology*; D020370:Osteoarthritis, Knee / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D010173:Palpation