Osteoarthritis can begin in the 20’s, but most are asymptomatic and generally not easily detected. The prevalence of osteoarthritis increases with age and is more common in women than men. According to the World Health Organization, the prevalence of osteoarthritis is 50% in people over the age of 50 and 80% in people over the age of 55. Foreign surveys have pointed out that those with significant x-ray evidence of osteoarthritis account for 25% of men and 30% of women in the 45-64 age group. In the age group of 65 years or older, the prevalence rises to 58% in men and 65% in women. Clinical surveys have also confirmed that the incidence of osteoarthritis is 29% between the ages of 59-69 and about 70% at the age of 75 or older. It is estimated that by the end of this century, the country will have 100 million elderly people. If we use the above-mentioned foreign survey to roughly estimate the incidence of osteoarthritis, the number of osteoarthritis patients in the elderly alone in China can reach about 50 million. In 1999, the World Health Organization ranked osteoarthritis, cardiovascular disease and cancer as the top three killers of human health. The main pathological changes in osteoarthritis are degenerative degeneration and loss of cartilage, and reactive hyperplasia of the ligamentous attachments and subchondral bone at the edge of the joint, resulting in joint pain, stiffness, deformity and dysfunction. Normally, there is little friction between the joints to cause wear and tear, unless overuse or injury occurs. The most likely cause of osteoarthritis is an abnormality in the synthetic cartilage components, such as collagen (which is a tough, fibrous protein in connective tissue) and mucin (a substance that produces cartilage elasticity). In addition, the cartilage, although growing vigorously, is thin and its surface is prone to rupture. Bone overgrowth at the edges of the joint forms a mass that can be seen and felt (called a bony mass). Osteochondrosis causes unevenness of the joint surface, interfering with the normal joint function and causing pain. In clinical practice, osteoarthritis can be divided into two categories: 1. primary osteoarthritis: This refers to osteoarthritis whose cause cannot be detected by all current tests, and is usually referred to as osteoarthritis. 2. secondary osteoarthritis: This refers to lesions that are induced by various other causes or diseases, such as trauma, rheumatoid arthritis, neurological and endocrine diseases, etc. This type of osteoarthritis has more limited lesions and is not accompanied by Herbertian nodes. People who repeatedly strain their joints are at high risk of developing osteoarthritis, such as foundry workers, miners and bus drivers. However, long-distance runners are not at high risk for the disease. Obesity is a major factor in osteoarthritis, but the evidence is not yet sufficient. I. Non-pharmacological treatment Non-pharmacological treatment consists of many elements, including patient health education, self-training, weight loss, aerobics, joint mobility training, muscle strength training, use of walking aids, wedge insoles for internal knee roll, occupational therapy and joint protection, and aids to daily life. In Europe and the United States, a significant proportion of patients can reduce their symptoms and return to normal life and work through the above treatments. The country’s investment in this area and the perception of health care professionals is still weak, and strengthening this work in the future is something that medical professionals at all levels should pay attention to. Patients with osteoarthritis of the knee often present with reduced quadriceps muscle strength, which was previously thought to be caused by disuse atrophy, but recent studies abroad have concluded that quadriceps muscle atrophy is not entirely caused by osteoarthritis, and that reduced quadriceps muscle strength may be one of the risk factors for osteoarthritis of the knee, as a result of reduced quadriceps muscle strength, the stability of the knee joint is affected, and the normal muscle should be Therefore, it is beneficial for patients with osteoarthritis to strengthen their quadriceps muscles and to train aerobically. Is there a specific medicine for osteoarthritis? 1. Sodium hyaluronate (Argii, Helgen, Spelt): It is the main component of the synovial fluid of the joint cavity and one of the components of the cartilage matrix, which plays a lubricating role in the joint and reduces friction between tissues. Mobility. It is often injected intra-articularly, 25mg once, once a week for 5 weeks, with strict aseptic operation. 2.Glucosamine (glucose): It is the most important monosaccharide of polyglucosamine (gs) and proteoglycan in the matrix of articular cartilage. Normal people can synthesize gs by amination of glucose, but in osteoarthritis, the synthesis of gs in chondrocytes is blocked or insufficient, resulting in softening of cartilage matrix and loss of elasticity, destruction of collagen fiber structure, and increase of cartilage surface lumen, causing bone wear and destruction. Glucosamine can block the pathogenesis of osteoarthritis, promote the synthesis of proteoglycans with normal structure in chondrocytes, and inhibit the production of enzymes (such as collagenase and phospholipase a2) that damage tissue and cartilage, reduce damage to chondrocytes, improve joint movement, relieve joint pain, and delay the course of osteoarthritis. Take 250-500mg orally once, 3 times a day, best taken with meals. 3, non-steroidal analgesic anti-inflammatory drugs: can inhibit the synthesis of cyclooxygenase and prostaglandin, counteract the inflammatory response, relieve joint edema and pain. You can use ibuprofen 200-400mg once, 3 times a day; or aminoglycoside zinc 200mg once, 3 times a day; Nimesulide (Emmerich) 100mg once, 2 times a day for 4-6 weeks.