Objective To summarize the molecular biological research progress of non-coding RNAs modulating osteoarthritis (OA), and provide a reference basis for biological study and clinical treatment of OA. Methods Recent domestic and foreign related literature about the regulation of OA pathological process by non-coding RNAs was widely reviewed. Results Non-coding RNAs can be divided into three types based on the length of RNA. A lot of non-coding RNAs participating in OA pathological process are screened out by high throughput sequencing technology and microarray technology, and it is verified that these non-coding RNAs involve in the regulation of OA by RT-PCR. The mechanism of OA mediated target is clarified by knocking-down and overexpressing of the most prominent expressed non-coding RNAs in OA. There are the complicated gene expressed network topology in non-coding RNAs, and between non-coding RNAs and coding RNAs. It provides a basis for clearing the effect of gene structure and function, and finding the definite therapeutic target of OA. Conclusion There is preliminary study on molecular biological mechanism of non-coding RNAs mediating OA, but the key structure or sequence of non-coding RNAs, formation and interaction of effecting composite structure about mediating OA are unknown, and it needs further study.