On overview paper by Chinese authors of 12 recent (2006-2017) systematic reviews, concludes acupuncture treatment of knee osteoarthritis is effective. More specifically, according to evidence rated as high quality, acupuncture showed a better total effective rate, a better short-term effective rate and fewer adverse reactions, than conventional medicine.
(The effectiveness and safety of acupuncture for knee osteoarthritis: An overview of systematic reviews. Medicine (Baltimore), July 2019.)