What is osteoarthritis of the knee? As people age, especially after the age of 40, they are at risk of developing osteoarthritis of the knee. It is a degenerative bone and joint disease that, unlike rheumatoid arthritis, is caused by dysfunction and pain due to long-term strain on the synovial membrane and joint surfaces within the knee joint. What are the symptoms of osteoarthritis of the knee? The onset of osteoarthritis of the knee is a slow process and is most often seen in people after the age of 40 who are overweight. It is more prevalent in women than men. Knee pain or increased pain usually occurs after prolonged walking, climbing, dancing and other activities. It can be pain in one knee or both knees. At first, the pain is only paroxysmal and intermittent, then it slowly becomes constant, worsens after exertion or cold, and is noticeable when going up and down stairs, and more pronounced at night when sleeping, affecting sleep in severe cases. Movement of the knee joint is restricted, and many patients have to walk with a limp. Very few patients may experience interlocking knee joints (walking or squatting with something stuck in the knee joint, accompanied by pain, which can be unlocked with slight movement or twisting) or knee joint effusion. You may hear popping and grinding sounds when you move the joint, and some patients may experience swelling or even joint deformation. How is osteoarthritis of the knee treated? Osteoarthritis of the knee is a common condition and there are many ways to treat this disease. For patients with moderate to mild cases, conservative treatment is recommended. There are many methods of conservative treatment, including acupuncture treatment, external application of acupuncture points, ionization, oral and external cleansing of tonics, and intra-articular injection. Among them, acupuncture treatment is a comprehensive treatment with acupuncture as the core, together with moxibustion, fire cupping, tuina, micro-current electro-acupuncture, infrared physiotherapy and other methods. Acupuncture is a popular and internationally recognized method of arthritis treatment. It is safe, has no toxic side effects, causes minimal trauma to the body, is mildly painful or absent, and has an immediate pain-relieving effect. It can resolve knee pain, eliminate joint edema, help the joint heal, and improve joint longevity. How to prevent osteoarthritis of the knee and self-care? Osteoarthritis of the knee is a slow accumulation, chronic strain process. Increasing age, long-term poor posture, weight bearing and exertion, and overweight are all causes of soft tissue damage to the knee. We need to develop proper walking posture, reduce weight bearing, actively lose weight, and reduce strenuous activities such as climbing, dancing, and fast running. Second, as we age, the incidence of osteoporosis increases and the tolerance of the bone to withstand pressure decreases. We need to take proper calcium supplements and exercise the muscles of the thighs to increase the tolerance of the knee joint. Once again, those who have had trauma to the knee should be aware of the development of knee osteoarthritis. Trauma, such as fractures, cartilage and ligament damage, can cause an imbalance of forces on the joint and accelerate joint degeneration. People who have multiple family members with knee osteoarthritis need to protect their knee joints because research has found a genetic link between knee osteoarthritis and genetics. Patients with mild knee osteoarthritis or occasional joint pain can apply heat and moxibustion on their own and pay attention to reducing exercise so that the knee joint gets sufficient rest. You can also apply pressure and massage according to the acupuncture points around the knee joint.