Bone and joint diseases affect millions of people around the world. Conditions such as arthritis, osteoporosis, back pain or trauma can result in severe long-term pain and physical disability. The Bone and Joint Decade hopes to increase awareness of these problems.

Few scientific breakthroughs occur "overnight." Most require years of funding and research. In addition, the costs and priorities for change are very different between technologically advanced nations and developing countries. Health care professionals realized that at least 10 years would be needed to gather the information, focus the research and develop appropriate responses to the problems.

Across the world, millions of people have conditions that affect bones and joints. Because people are living longer, conditions like arthritis and osteoporosis have a great impact on costs of care and quality of life. Joint diseases account for more than half of all chronic conditions in the elderly. In many countries, road traffic injuries are a major problem. By the year 2010, the cost of treating road traffic injuries may account for one-quarter of all health care expenditures in developing nations. Road traffic injuries can result in long-term disability and greatly affect an individual's quality of life.

Injuries and diseases of the bones and joints have a tremendous impact on the world's people and economies. Consider these facts:

• In the United States, musculoskeletal conditions cost society up to $254 billion per year in medical care and lost productivity.
• Musculoskeletal conditions are the number one reason that patients visit doctors.
• About one third of all Americans report that they have some form of arthritis.
• Half of all women and one out of every eight men older than age 50 will have an osteoporosis-related fracture in their lifetime.
• Up to 15 million people are injured or disabled each year in road accidents.

The Bone and Joint Decade has four key goals:

1. To raise awareness and educate the world on the increasing impact that bone and joint conditions have on society.
2. To empower patients to participate in decisions about their care and treatment.
3. To increase global funding for prevention activities and treatment research.
4. To seek and promote cost-effective prevention and treatment of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders.

If you are affected by a musculoskeletal disorder, either as a patient or through a family member:

• Join and get actively involved with an organization participating in the Bone and Joint Decade. If you already belong to such an organization, encourage its participation in national activities.
• Participate in an awareness or education program on bones and joints sponsored by your organization. You can learn how to manage your condition and help prevent disability. If you know others who have similar disorders, encourage them to attend these programs as well.
• Encourage government, funding foundations and industry to increase funding for research on bone and joint conditions.
• Help develop education, support and advocacy programs to help those who have musculoskeletal conditions live better lives.
• Write letters to your legislative representatives and area health officials. Explain how your condition affects your life and campaign for increased funding for musculoskeletal research and education.
• Write similar letters to the editor of your local newspaper.
• Encourage your physician and other health care professionals to get involved in Bone and Joint Decade activities through their professional societies.

If you are a physician or health care professional:

• Encourage your professional society or patient organization to become a Participating Organization of the Bone and Joint Decade and take a leadership role in developing activities.
• Encourage other community service organizations to work with Participating Organizations in public awareness campaigns to promote early detection and treatment.
• Write letters to your local and national legislative representatives and health officials to encourage increased funding for musculoskeletal research. Write similar letters to the editor of your local newspaper.

For more information on the Bone and Joint Decade, visit the international Web site at www.boneandjointdecade.orgwww.boneandjointdecade.org (http://www.boneandjointdecade.org) or the United States site at The President's ProclamationThe President's Proclamation (http://www.whitehouse.gov/news/releases/2002/03/20020325-5.html).