These new alliances between musculoskeletal associations, patient advo- cacy groups, practitioners, researchers and industry are critical to accomplishing the goals of the Bone and Joint Decade. To date there are 57 United States organizations, medical associations, patient advocacy groups, scientific journals, funding agencies and data collection agencies that have endorsed the Bone and Joint Decade. This is added to the more than 800 organizations worldwide that have thus far endorsed the Bone and Joint Decade effort. Twenty-one world governments have officially designated the next decade as the Bone and Joint Decade. AAOS President S. Terry Canale, MD, focused his comments on the importance of the patient-physician partnership.
Musculoskeletal conditions affect hundreds of millions of people worldwide.
We need to harness all the resources at our command to raise awareness and educate the world on the increasing societal impact of musculoskeletal injuries and disorders. Joint programs for improving prevention, health care, education and research have proven to be successful for the Decade of the Brain. Amye Leong, a rheumatoid arthritis patient and advocate, spoke eloquently about her disease from the patient perspective.