The Bone and Joint Decade is, like most other preventive awareness activities, spirited towards educating the public and the medical world on the diagnoses, treatment, and prevention of bone and joint disease.  Their goal is to raise money for research, prevention, and treatment modalities that affect millions worldwide every year.  In the United States, there’s approximately $254 million spent on bone and joint diseases alone each year.

There website says it best……
Across the world, musculoskeletal conditions affect hundreds of millions of people, at a huge cost to society. Worldwide, musculoskeletal conditions are the most common causes of severe long-term pain and physical disability. Aging populations throughout the developed world will result in significant increases in musculoskeletal conditions, with attendant increases in costs to those countries.  Joint diseases account for half of all chronic conditions in the elderly. Forty percent of all women over the age of 50 years are expected to suffer at least one osteoporotic fracture in their lifetime. Throughout the world, musculoskeletal conditions and deformities deprive children of a normal development.  Road traffic injuries are increasing precipitously, and by the year 2010, is estimated to account for as much as 25% of all health care expenditures in developing nations.  In the United States alone, musculoskeletal conditions are a leading cause of disability, accounting for more than 130 million patient visits to healthcare providers annually.

This coming week, the Global Conference is being held in Washington, D.C.  Check it out, and see how you can make a difference.

Bone and Joint Decade Global Network Conference

Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the United States: Prevalence, Societal and Economic Cost – Presenting a compelling argument for greater understanding and expanding research

Experts in Arthritis – A Free Public Seminar for People with Arthritis and People who Care About Them

Fit to a T – An Education Program on Bone Health and Osteoporosis

Medical school curriculum recommendations

National Action Week - October 12-20

PB&J – Protect Your Bones and Joints – A High School Education Program

Ponseti Clubfoot Clinics

Rare Bone Disease Patient Network

USBJD Newsletter

Young Investigators Initiative