282 patients with chronic knee pain were randomized to 1 of 4 groups: needle acupuncture, laser acupuncture, sham laser acupuncture, or a control group. In this Zelen-design RCT, patients were randomized prior to informed consent. The participants that declined remained in an observational cohort. Patients in the acupuncture groups were treated in 8-12 sessions over 12 weeks. Pain and function were assessed at the end of treatment (12 weeks) and again at 1 year. The results revealed no significant differences in pain or function between either active laser and sham laser acupuncture, or active laser and needle acupuncture at 12 weeks. At 12 weeks, active laser acupuncture and needle acupuncture groups demonstrated significantly but not clinically relevant lower pain when compared to the control group (no acupuncture). Results at 1 year indicated no significant differences in pain or function between any two group comparisons.