Bone and Joint Health National Awareness Week
An annual global event, Bone and Joint Health National Awareness Week is held October 12-20 with activities focused on disorders including arthritis, back pain, osteoporosis and trauma. The events and projects organized by individuals and organizations worldwide are designed to raise awareness of prevention, disease management and treatments as well as advances in a number of areas.
You will find activities to do and ways to become better informed below. But before that, take a look at some facts:
o Nearly half the American population over the age of 18 - about 48 percent - are affected by musculoskeletal (bone and joint) conditions, according to The Burden of Musculoskeletal Conditions in the United States. (1)
o Bone and joint conditions are the most common cause of severe long-term pain and physical disability worldwide affecting hundreds of millions of people.(2)
o Musculoskeletal conditions include back pain, arthritis, traumatic injuries, osteoporosis and childhood conditions.
o Unless actions are taken now, the global prevalence of musculoskeletal conditions is predicted to increase greatly due to increasing life expectancy, changes in risk factors and availability of appropriate prevention measures.
o Musculoskeletal conditions can lead to significant disability plus diminished productivity and quality of life. Treatment and lost wage costs associated with musculoskeletal diseases in the U.S. alone was estimated at $950 billion in 2004 to 2006 - equal to 7.4 percent of gross domestic product (GDP).
o Research funding is currently less than 2 percent of the National Institutes of Health annual budget, despite the high costs associated with these conditions.
o Since 2011, when "Baby Boomers" became beneficiaries of Medicare, the economic and societal cost of bone and joint health began to escalate and is expected to continue for decades.
Now is the time to raise awareness - and the reason for Bone and Joint Health National Awareness Week.
In addition to activities throughout the week, there are five special days during Health National Awareness Week.
- October 12 - World Arthritis Day
- October 16 - World Spine Day
- October 17 - World Trauma Day
- October 19 - World Pediatric Bone and Joint (PB&J) Day
- October 20 - World Osteoporosis Day
(1) United States Bone and Joint Initiative: The Burden of Musculoskeletal Diseases in the United States. Rosemont, IL: American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons; 2011
(2) Burden of Major Musculoskeletal Conditions, Woolf & Pfleger, WHO Bulletin 2003; 81: 646-56
World Arthritis Day - October 12
The Arthritis Foundation (AF) as part of the "Move to Improve" campaign asked people to send in unique pictures waving and its aim was to collect 100,000 photos/videos or more to make a collage of photographs into a supersize, projectable picture for use on World Arthritis Day. In an attempt to accummulate the most waving photographs in the world, the U.S. achieved its goal and claimed 1st place. For more information about World Arthritis Day visit www.worldarthritisday.org.
Changing existing stereotypes about arthritis and the impact of this life-changing disease is critical to increasing the recognition and understanding of arthritis among the general population. The Arthritis Foundation's FACES OF ARTHRITIS (SM) campaign www.FacesOfArthritis.org showcased the diverse faces of arthritis and highlighted the far-reaching and sometimes deadly consequences of the disease. As part of the FACES OF ARTHRITIS (SM) campaign www.FacesOfArthritis.org, AF asked families to participate by submitting their "Faces" photos from summer vacations where they posed in their "Faces" t-shirt in front of a landmark waving. The AF will be posting pictures throughout the year.
The United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) offers Experts in Arthritis, a public education program for people with arthritis and for people who care about them. Patient advocates and healthcare professionals including rheumatologists, physical therapists, orthopaedic surgeons, nurses, and occupational therapists present sessions covering current scientific evidence for the treatment and self-management of osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, juvenile arthritis, and answer questions related to current knowledge about arthritis care. For more information, please go to www.usbjd.org/rd/?ExpertsinArthritis.
World Spine Day - October 16
Every year people from around the world join together to raise awareness on World Spine Day (WSD). 2012 marks the initial development stage of a coordinated, collaborative effort to raise awareness about spinal disorders on WSD, an expanding development process which we hope will continue over the upcoming years.
Research has demonstrated that inactivity can contribute to the development of back pain and other spinal disorders. Certain postures or positions on their own or in repetition can also put increased stress and strain on the spine and potentially contribute to injury. This year World Spine Day focused on the importance of positive posture and movement at home, work and play as a preventative strategy aimed at promoting spinal health and preventing spinal disorders.
The World Spine Day website features information and resources for planning activities for use by interested individuals and organizations. Professional associations, patient advocacy groups, educational institutions and others with an interest in spinal health were encouraged to get involved. For further information, www.worldspineday.org.
World Pediatric Bone and Joint Day - October 19
"Kids and Vitamin D Deficiency" was the focus of the inaugural World Pediatric Bone and Joint Day (PB&J Day) on October 19. World PB&J Day highlighted the impact of musculoskeletal conditions on children and educated health care providers and the public about children's musculoskeletal health issues. Nearly 48% of adults have a musculoskeletal condition, many of which began in childhood. Children represent 10% of the population with a disabling musculoskeletal condition.
For more information, www.usbjd.org/rd/?WorldPBJDay.
World Osteoporosis Day - October 20
World Osteoporosis Day was based on a thematic 2012 report entitled "Capture the Fracture: A global campaign to break the fragility fracture cycle" authored by Professor Kristina Akesson, Professor David Marsh and Paul Mitchell.
The report focused on communicating secondary fracture prevention as a public healthcare priority; highlighting the current worldwide gap in care; focusing on proven solutions: coordinator based models of care.
The North American World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) media launch was held Thursday, October 11, at the Hotel Marriott City Center in Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA, in conjunction with the ASBMR Annual Meeting.
This year's launch theme, "Capture the Fracture", highlighted the urgent need to end the cycle of worldwide bone fragility. Local Minneapolis TV anchor Diana Pierce moderated the event which featured speakers from the International Osteoporosis Foundation, National Osteoporosis Foundation, National Bone Health Alliance and Osteoporosis Canada. A patient also gave a speech entitled "What Osteoporosis Means to Me - A Patient's Story."
The overall theme for this year's World Osteoporosis Day was Stop at One, Make Your First Break Your Last.
The International Osteoporosis Foundation spread the message that fractures are warning signs. Their messages for 2012:
· Get Tested: Ask your doctor for a clinical assessment
· Prevent the First Fracture and Know the Risk Factors: Find out by taking the IOF One Minute Risk Test
· Get Informed: With the IOF Full Patient Booklet
For more information visit www.worldosteoporosisday.org
The National Osteoporosis Foundation launched a media campaign focused on wrist fractures as a common first fracture which serves as a warning sign.
Fit to a T is an educational program developed by members of the U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) in response to the Surgeon General's first-ever report on bone health and osteoporosis. It is designed to help the public learn more about bone health, as well as the prevention, early detection, diagnosis, and treatment of osteoporosis. USBJI recognizes World Osteoporosis Day and invites you to join us by hosting a Fit to a T session in your area. For more information, go to www.fit2t.org.
Global Initiatives
International organizations promoted awareness during Bone and Joint Health National Awareness Week. Click here to see the activities.
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