On behalf of the 16,000 members of the Academy, I appreciate this opportunity to present our position on the need for continued and expanded funding for research at the National Institutes of Health in fiscal year 1997, and in particular musculoskeletal research conducted at the National Institutes of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases. Diseases and disorders of the musculoskeletal system continue to affect millions of Americans of all ages, exacting a tremendous toll on their health and on the economy of this country. Though the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases continues to make remarkable advances in research, the causes and cures of many musculoskeletal diseases remain unknown or are poorly understood. Without support for musculoskeletal research, new and effective treatments will not be pursued. And our society will continue to suffer from debilitating musculoskeletal diseases and will continue to spend billions of dollars on their care.
Musculoskeletal trauma is by far the most common type of injury requiring treatment.
Such injuries are usually painful and can be temporarily or permanently debilitating. Approximately 61 million Americans sustain injuries annually. Nearly 33 million of these injuries are musculoskeletal in nature. These injuries occur in and around the home and at work. Over the past 20 years, numerous new technologies have been developed to assist in the treatment of musculoskeletal injuries.