To explore the efficacy of warming acupuncture combined with sodium hyaluronate intraarticular injection in the treatment of osteoarthritis and the influence on matrix metalloproteinase (MMPs). Methods:A total of 92 patients with osteoarthritis who were tread in our hospital from February 2014 to August 2016 were selected and randomly divided into observation group (n＝46) and control group (n＝46). Control group were treated with sodium hyaluronate intraarticular injection, and observation group were treated with warming acupuncture on the basis of control group. Both groups were treated for 4 weeks continuously. The clinical efficacy of 2 groups were compared, and the levels of MMPs and the tissue inhibitor of MMPs, the inflammatory factors of synovial fluid before and after treatment in 2 groups were detected and compared; Visual analogue scale (VAS) and Lysholm knee joint function score (LKSS) were used to evaluate and compare the pain condition and knee joint function in 2 groups before and after treatment. Results:The clinical efficacy of observation group (97.83%) was significantly higher than control group (80.43%) (P<0.01). Compared with that before treatment, the levels of MMP-2, MMP-3, MMP-9, TIMP-1 and IL-2, TNF-α of synovial fluid all decreased after treatment, and observation group was lower than control group (P<0.01). Compared with before treatment, the VAS scores of 2 groups decreased after treatment, and observation group was lower than control group. The LKSS score of 2 groups increased after treatment, and observation group was higher than control group (P<0.01). Conclusion:Warming acupuncture combined sodium hyaluronate in the treatment of osteoarthritis can significantly reduce the levels of MMPs and the tissue inhibitor of MMPs, inflammatory factors of synovial fluid, eliminate relevant inflammation and pain symptoms, delay the articular cartilage's damage, and the clinical efficacy is significantly better than sodium hyaluronate intraarticular injection alone.