The incidence of knee osteoarthritis is high, and most of the clinical treatment methods are to alleviate symptoms and improve joint function. At present, there is no radical treatment, and the quality of life of patients is seriously affected. In recent years, the application of Chinese medicine in the treatment of knee osteoarthritis shows positive clinical efficacy with easy operation, so it is widely used in clinical practice. This paper studied the relevant literature by sorting, retrieving, analyzing and summarizing. Prescription, applied areas, curative effect evaluation were reviewed, and the clinical research progress of the treatment of knee osteoarthritis by application therapy was expounded, and some problems and their solutions in the clinical research of knee osteoarthritis were discussed, to provide literature basis for clinical diagnosis and treatment.