Bone and Joint Action Week | Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health

Bone & Joint Action Week is our opportunity to highlight the importance of musculoskeletal health and the need to effectively prevent and manage conditions which affect it.

During this week there are dedicated days to highlight major rheumatic and musculoskeletal conditions.

17 October: World Trauma Day

19 October: World Pediatric Bone & Joint Day

The Global Alliance for Musculoskeletal Health of the Bone and Joint Decade, gives an overarching theme for the week as well as encouraging active support of the individual days. Our theme for 2016 is “Musculoskeletal health to stay in work”. This reflects increasing recognition of the importance of musculoskeletal health to enable people to stay in work, be independent and enjoy a life without pain. Therefore, we would encourage you to support this theme which you can promote nationally and which we can showcase globally for you.

Please inform our central office of your plans and send in announcements or media notices so that we can disseminate it globally. We look forward to working with you to make the Bone and Joint Action Week a worldwide success!

12 October 2016

World Arthritis Day

www.worldarthritisday.org

World Arthritis Day (WAD) was established in 1996 by Arthritis and Rheumatism International (ARI) and is celebrated each year on 12 October.
Now, people with rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases (RMDs) from around the world can join together to make their voices heard on this day. World Arthritis Day is an ideal focus for organisations to raise awareness of issues affecting people with RMDs and for individuals to support campaigns.
Although 12 October is the official World Arthritis Day, this is a year round campaign.

The aims of World Arthritis Day are:

To raise awareness of RMDs amongst the medical community, people with RMDs and the general public
To influence public policy by making decision-makers aware of the burden of RMDs and the steps which can be taken to ease it
To ensure all people with RMDs and their caregivers are aware of the vast support network available to them.

The World Arthritis Day website is supported and managed by EULAR, the European League Against Rheumatism.

This year’s theme is “The future is in your hands” and you are invited to share your personal story #WADStory about living with a rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease (RMD) and tell the world how you have taken action to:

Live your life to the fullest (if you have a RMD)
Support people with RMDs (carers, healthcare professionals and the wider public)

If sharing your story on social media please use #WADStory.

16 October 2016

World Spine Day

www.worldspineday.org

Every year on October 16th people from around the world join together to raise awareness on World Spine Day as part of the Bone and Joint Decade’s Action Week. The World Spine Day (WSD) theme for 2016 is “Straighten Up and Move”. We want to highlight the importance of physical activity and improving posture as part of good spinal health and prevention of injury.

To mark World Spine Day 2016, organisations and people worldwide are being encouraged to plan special events around the theme of “Straighten up and Move” to raise awareness of good spinal health.

WSD also want to hear your stories of how you keep your spines healthy by submitting your very own #MyBackStory. You are invited to submit a short tweet/story or take a photo demonstrating how you or your organisation are promoting spinal health and physical activity and share it with them via social media using #worldspineday, #mybackstory.

You can also register your support via the Organisations page helps WSD to spread the word and help them keep people in touch with the latest events occuring worldwide!

The aims of World Spine Day are to:

Raise awareness about spinal health and spine disorders within the interdisciplinary health care community and amongst public policy decision-makers and the general public;
To provide an opportunity for and encourage ongoing discussion about the burden of spinal disorders; and
To promote an interdisciplinary, collaborative approach to easing the burden of spinal disorders.

17 October 2016

World Trauma Day

World Trauma Day began in 2011 in New Delhi, with The Trauma Society of South Africa (which has the highest road mortality rate in the world with 40 deaths per day) joining the year after. Its purpose was to set a day aside to consider the impact, prevention and treatment of traumatic injuries and deaths.

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), trauma is a major cause of death and disability across the world. WHO research has shown that at least 50 percent of road deaths occurring in developing countries could have been prevented with effective intervention after trauma has occurred, that is:

immediate pre-hospital care;
adequate knowledge of handling emergency situations (involves training of personnel);
adequate supply of pre-hospital care equipment and facilities (enough ambulances and other medical supplies).

Commemoration of World Trauma Day emphasizes the importance of saving and protecting a life during the most critical moments and preparing and applying critical measures to deal with and avoid trauma fatalities.

WHO research has shown that at least 50 percent of road deaths occurring in developing countries could have been prevented with effective interference after trauma has occurred, that is:

Immediate pre-hospital care
Adequate knowledge of handling emergency situations (involves training of personnel)
Adequate supply of pre-hospital care equipment and facilities (enough ambulances and other medical supplies)

19 October 2015
World Pediatric Bone & Joint (PB&J) Day

World Pediatric Bone and Joint (PB&J) Day, developed by the multi-disciplinary Pediatric Specialty Group of the United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) features educational stories on important bone and joint-related conditions about which kids, adolescents and their parents should be aware.

The United States Bone and Joint Initiative (USBJI) Pediatric Specialty Group’s goal is to identify the primary areas of concern with regard to children’s musculoskeletal health, including those that relate to other health issues, and to develop programs and activities through research, education and advocacy that will promote their improved health, and reduce the burden of disease.

They are asking you to share your event or your day on Facebook or via Twitter @USBJI.

World PB&J Day seeks to highlight the impact of musculoskeletal conditions on children and educate 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.

20 October 2016
World Osteoporosis Day

worldosteoporosisday.org

World Osteoporosis Day (WOD), marked on October 20 each year, is nine month long

campaign dedicated to raising global awareness of the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of

osteoporosis and metabolic bone disease. It aims to put bone, muscle and joint health on the

global health agenda and reaches out to health-care professionals, the media, policy makers and

the public at large.

The global campaign has been organized by the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF)

since 1997. IOF develops the campaign strategy, messaging and toolkit material, which is then

rolled out through its over 234 member organizations - comprised of national osteoporosis

patient, medical and research societies - in more than 99 countries

The World Osteoporosis Day (WOD) Theme for 2016 is

Love Your Bones

Protect Your Future

Your long-term bone & muscle health starts now! Take early action through:

Regular exercise
A bone healthy diet
Consulting your doctor about osteoporosis

Please see World Osteoporosis Day Campaign Sheet and Posters to help organise your day

You are invited to “Wear White“ on October 20 and embrace better bone health