October 12th Begins Bone and Joint Health Action Week

Mark your calendar – October 12-20 is Bone and Joint Health Action Week, which is held annually to promote awareness of these health issues and of the management, treatment, and prevention of musculoskeletal conditions.

Why is this noteworthy? Because 54 percent of Americans over the age of 18 – more than half – are affected by a musculoskeletal condition including back pain, arthritis, traumatic injury, osteoporosis, spinal deformity, or childhood-derived musculoskeletal disorder, and one in three of them require medical care.

Awareness of Musculoskeletal Conditions

Worldwide, bone and joint conditions are the most common cause of severe long-term pain and physical disability. All told, musculoskeletal conditions affect hundreds of millions of people.

Despite these sobering statistics, research funding is less than 2 percent of the National Institutes of Health’s annual budget and is declining each year. And with more and more baby boomers becoming Medicare beneficiaries, the economic and societal cost of bone and joint health is expected to rise for decades to come.

Clearly, the more you know about bone and joint health, the more effectively you can help prevent or treat these conditions. Which is the whole purpose of Bone and Joint Health Action Week – to raise awareness.

Activities for Bone and Joint Health Action Week

Promoted by the U.S. Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI), Bone and Joint Health Action Week offers numerous activities that focus on a wide range of concerns including:

• Arthritis
• Back/spine pain
• Osteoporosis
• Broken bones
• Traumatic injuries
• Childhood conditions

There are four special days during Action Week:

October 12 – World Arthritis Day – This day is devoted to educating people about arthritis and offering focused information to those suffering from arthritis, as well as those who care about them, via videos and blogs. USBJI offers Experts in Arthritis, a program in which patient advocates and health care professionals present sessions covering current information for the treatment and self-management of various forms of arthritis, and also answer questions related to arthritis care. To learn more, visit worldarthritisday.org.

October 16 – World Spine Day – The theme of this year’s global spinal awareness campaign is “Love Your Spine,” reflecting on how people around the globe can “empower themselves and others when it comes to spinal health.” For more information, visit worldspineday.org.

October 19 – World Pediatric Bone and Joint (PB&J) Day – Children and teenagers dealing with obesity are at a significantly higher risk of developing bone and joint problems. Health care providers, parents, and patients can download and share posters that offer prevention and treatment tips by visiting www.usbji.org.

October 20 – World Osteoporosis Day – The purpose of this day is to promote worldwide awareness of fracture prevention and osteoporosis, and of the heavy toll the disease can take on an individual’s future if left undiagnosed and untreated. To learn more, visit worldosteoporosisday.org.

Orthopedic Doctor in St. Louis, Missouri

Bone and joint problems can last for many months, if not years – but you don’t need to suffer through them. Seek medical attention early, and an orthopedic specialist can help you get your bones and joints back in working order so you can live a more active lifestyle with less pain.

Call Advanced Bone & Joint today at (636) 229-4222 to arrange a consultation with one of our orthopedic specialists, or schedule an appointment online. We look forward to helping you feel better again.