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We Endorse the Bone and Joint Decade
Monitor Project
This worldwide effort is committed
to raising awareness of the impact of musculoskeletal disorders
and the opportunities for progress in injury prevention, treatment
and research for all people affected by musculoskeletal conditions.
The United Nations, World Health Organization,
the Vatican, 22 countries, more than 800 organizations and patient-advocacy
groups, and 26 U.S. states have endorsed this effort.
Bone and joint diseases have a profound
impact on the health of our world's population. In the United States
alone:
- Bone and joint disease is the No.
1 cause of visits to physicians;
- 28.6 million people suffer musculoskeletal
injuries each year;
- One of every seven people has a
musculoskeletal condition, resulting in a total annual cost to
our nation of $215 billion;
- Injuries to the bones, joints and
muscles are responsible for 147 billion work-loss days for adults
and 21 billion school-loss days for children each year;
- As our population ages, we can
expect significant increases in the number of people who experience
hip fractures, arthritis, osteoporosis and other bone and muscle
disorders.
What can you do?
Improve your musculoskeletal health potential. Proper exercise,
diet, safe-lifting techniques and safety belt use will improve the
quality of your musculoskeletal health, according to the American
Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons, which supports the Bone and Joint
Decade project. Even people with osteoporosis or osteoarthritis
can benefit from regular, moderate physical activity.
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