Abstract:Objective:To observe the effect of acupoint application on symptoms and quality of life in patients with postmenopausal osteoporosis(PMOP) of the liver- kidney yin deficiency type. Methods: A total of 104 cases of PMOP patients of the liver-kidney yin deficiency type were selected and divided into the acupoint application group and the routine treatment group according to the random number table method,with 52 cases in each group. Two cases dropped out from the acupoint application group,and 50 cases were actually included; one case in the routine treatment group withdrew from the trial for personal reasons, and 51 cases were actually included. The routine treatment group was treated with calcitriol and Caltrate D, and the acupoint application group was additionally treated with acupoint application with Chinese medicine. The changes of bone mineral density(BMD), traditional Chinese medicine symptom scores,Quality of Life Scale(SF-36) scores and Oswestry Disability Index(ODI) scores were compared between the two groups after six months of treatment. Results:After treatment,BMD levels in the two groups were increased when compared with those before treatment(P<0.05), and the BMD level in the routine treatment group was higher than that in the acupoint application group, there being no statistically significance in the difference(P>0.05). After treatment,Chinese medicine symptom scores of pain in the waist and back, soreness and weakness of the waist and knees and difficulty in walking in the acupoint application group were decreased when compared with those before treatment(P< 0.05). The scores of soreness and weakness of the waist and knees and difficulty in walking in the routine treatment group were decreased when compared with those before treatment(P<0.05). The scores of pain in the waist and back and difficulty in walking in the acupoint application group were lower than those in the routine treatment group, the difference being statistically significant(P<0.05). After treatment, SF- 36 scores in the two groups were increased when compared with those before treatment, and the comparison of the SF- 36 scores in the acupoint application group before and after treatment showed significance in the difference(P<0.05);ODI scores in the two groups were decreased when compared with those before treatment(P<0.05). After treatment,scores of SF-36 in the acupoint application group were higher than that in the routine treatment group,and ODI score was lower,the differences being significant (P<0.05). Conclusion:For PMOP patients of the liver-kidney yin deficiency type,acupoint application can relieve their clinical symptoms and pain sensation in the waist and back, improve dysfunction, and enhance the quality of life of senile patients.