Aim: To study the effect of fibrous-tissue-broken pricking on apoptosis of rat synovium in Freund's adjuvant arthritis. Methods: A total of 40 SD rats were divided into normal group, model group, medication group, and pricking group, with 10 rats in each group. Freund's adjuvant arthritis model was established and the effect of fibrous-tissue-broken pricking on apoptosis in rat synovium was detected using TUNEL method. Results: The inflammatory rats in model group limped with swollen posterior ankle joint and their body mass decreased, the width of plantar circumference and body mass of (25.48±2.16) mm and (123.4± 12.8) g, respectively. After the treatment by fibrous-tissue-broken pricking, the swelling relieved, with plantar circumference and body mass of (22.15±1.17) mm and (132.5±14.2) g, respectively. There was a significant difference compared with the model group (P < 0.001). TUNEL detection revealed that the apoptosis index of the medication group (51.58±9.73)% was higher than that of the pricking group (43.81±3.84)% with a significant difference(P < 0.05), in spite of remarkable cell apoptosis in both groups. Conclusion: Fibrous-tissue-broken pricking can induce apoptosis of rat synovium in Freund's adjuvant arthritis. Therefore, inflammatory diseases may be treated through suppressing and reducing the overproliferation of synovium.