Most patients have mild osteoarthritis, with the number decreasing as the severity of the disease increases. And only moderate or severe osteoarthritis requires treatment under the supervision and guidance of a physician or related professional. Patients with mild osteoarthritis can be effectively treated simply by education or weight loss, doing some appropriate functional exercises, or changing their lifestyle, as well as using some self-assisted physical therapy measures, or taking some cartilage-nourishing medications. Of course, this type of basic treatment is not only suitable for mild or moderate osteoarthritis, but also for severe osteoarthritis, which is very beneficial when combined with basic treatment. Patients with moderate osteoarthritis can be treated with pain-relieving non-steroidal drugs, other physical therapy, or adjunctive therapy, or even intra-articular injections, under the guidance of a physician. Only a small number of patients have more severe osteoarthritis, and the treatment methods just described may not be very effective for them, so further treatment is needed. Some of these patients may require surgery, including osteotomies, arthroscopic surgery, and now, very successfully, artificial joint replacements. With regard to artificial joint replacement and some other surgical treatment modalities, conservative treatment is therefore the basis of treatment for osteoarthritis. Conservative treatment is divided into non-pharmacological and pharmacological treatment. Non-pharmacological treatment includes patient education, physical therapy, mobility support, and alteration of force lines. Pharmacologic treatment includes the use of topical medications, systemic analgesics, intra-articular injections, and the use of chondroprotective agents.