| Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is a degenerative joint disease characterized by articular cartilage degeneration, osteophyte formation, and narrowing of the joint space. A variety of therapeutic approaches are available for KOA, and a stepwise treatment model has gradually been established in clinical practice. In traditional Chinese medicine, KOA falls within the categories of “Bi disease” and “knee Bi.” In the early stage, the disease is located in the tendons; over time, it extends from the tendons to the bones, eventually leading to the concomitant involvement of both tendons and bones. However, to date, few studies have provided a detailed discussion on the relationship between stage-based treatment of KOA and the theory of “bone realignment and tendon softening.” Based on this, the present paper, guided by the theory of “bone realignment and tendon softening,” explores its relationship with the pathogenesis of KOA and establishes a connection between this theory and the stage-based treatment of KOA, with the aim of providing more options for the prevention and treatment of KOA through the application of classical theories of traditional Chinese traumatology. |