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Joint deformity and dysfunction are common and serious complications in the late stage of rheumatoid arthritis, which seriously affect the quality of life of patients. Traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) believes that joint deformity and dysfunction in some patients with rheuma- toid arthritis are closely related to the apraxia of meridians and tendons due to enduring illness. Based on the theory of meridians and tendons circulation, using the local and nearby therapeutic effect of acupoints as the treatment method in clinical practice, we conducted penetration needling of Houxi, Baxie, Wailaogong as well as Ashi points of interphalangeal joints of both hands through bilateral Sanjian, and used the uni- form reinforcing-reducing method to soothe tendons and meridians, thus effectively improving the dysfunction of deformed joints. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]