Osteoarthritis is a chronic, non-inflammatory joint disease that most often occurs in people after middle age. It is characterized clinically by joint pain, deformity and limited mobility. The pathological changes initially occur in the articular cartilage and later invade the subchondral plate and periarticular tissues such as synovium. It is generally believed to be related to aging, trauma, inflammation, obesity, metabolism and genetics. Common symptoms] The disease starts slowly and is mostly caused by cold, exertion or minor trauma, with pain and soreness in the joints. The pain is mostly intermittent and dull, but in severe cases, it can be persistent or even tearing or pins-and-needles pain. In the early stage, it occurs after exercise and is more obvious after weight-bearing and can be relieved at rest. As the disease progresses, pain can occur at rest or even at night. Morning stiffness is also one of the main manifestations of osteoarthritis. It is characterized by temporary stiffness after weight-bearing, or inconvenience in moving from one position to another, and is more pronounced in the morning when waking up or when sitting for a long time. The stiffness lasts for a short time, usually within half an hour, and can be relieved after activity. Pain can also be aggravated in cold weather or rainy days, and in severe cases, it can cause activity impairment. In the late stage of the disease, when the bone flab (commonly known as “bone spur”) is formed, the bone flab stimulates the synovial folds and produces an inflammatory reaction, resulting in severe pain and joint deformation or limited joint movement. If free bodies or cartilage fragments are present in the joint, a feeling of “interlocking” may occur when the joint is moved. Treatment】 Osteoarthritis is a degenerative disease, and there is no effective cure. There are various treatment methods to reduce pain, maintain and improve joint mobility and prevent joint dysfunction. 1. Develop good living habits and exercise. Avoid excessive load, adjust the intensity of labor; reduce weight appropriately, reduce climbing, pedaling, playing tai chi and other sports. You can use knee pads and canes to reduce the load on the joints. 2.Physical therapy Physical therapy is one of the important treatment methods for osteoarthritis, which can be effectively combined with aerobic exercise to help increase muscle strength, improve joint range of motion and enhance local blood circulation. 3.Medication Non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs): can relieve joint pain and reduce inflammation of the joints. These drugs can produce gastrointestinal side effects when taken for a long time. Chondroprotective agents: Intra-articular injections mainly include hyaluronic acid, and the main dosage form is sodium vitrate injection. It is usually given once a week for 5 weeks. Oral chondroprotective agents mainly include glucosamine, which has the effect of improving osteoarthritis and repairing early joint lesions with long-term use. 4.Surgical treatment When the patient is accompanied by persistent pain or progressive deformity, and conservative treatment is not effective, surgical treatment can be considered. For the elderly, the commonly used surgical method is joint replacement surgery, commonly hip and knee joint replacement surgery. Some younger patients may be considered for osteotomy.